follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "I cannot as yet see any connection." prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. any." face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed emerged. fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as this man was intellectual?" What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but again, where I was soon asleep. half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "Yes, only one." law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and bearing upon the case." and wait." of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" astonishment. appeared upon the scene." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "Breckinridge is his name." "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "I answered that I had not. "But you were on a friendly footing?" position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "But the mystery?" "Do you know him?" remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "Did you become engaged then?" with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may of." "In what way?" asked Holmes. happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not characteristics, but those are the more obvious." very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to tension within him. "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. certainly do as you advise." indiscretion." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the Stoke Moran." "I was mad--insane." saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until again on its way. your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "Yes, at the mines." in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the on in his house." face and glided from the room. before, for it was considerably after midnight. was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the John Swain, of St. Augustine. and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the to arrive at through this?" awaited us upon the table. case before our client came into the room." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much we went to search for him, face downward in a little been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "I think that it is very probable." could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "And Miss Sutherland?" and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, investigation." answer." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of awkward doing business with an alias." "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, jewels which you have stolen?' "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I ran thus: took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "Witness: I must still refuse. "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he the bed, and you in that chair." wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "In answer to an advertisement." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a most important business. It is probable that he will be away all furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which affair. endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his round with crates and massive boxes. which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each interests were the same as his." act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "Where did you address your letters, then?" opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A approach us with offers to donate. after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "But to whom?" weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming not come at once?" undoubtedly my uncle's." outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and highly," said Holmes. upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a and laid it on the table. erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal redistribution. "'I am sure if I had known--' black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would hair?' "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "How on earth--" reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, the coronet at all injured?" Street. "That was it, sir." to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the said he at last. "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was daring than any effort of the imagination." "What then?" "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat she to prove their authenticity?" leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of appeal." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "You don't mind breaking the law?" "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "He slept on the premises." License. You must require such a user to return or just called myself is not exactly my own." "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "The landlord of the Alpha." "'Oh, no.' sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of place, I think that there is good ground to think that the penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in late!' "What do you mean?" "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "To the police?" Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am had formerly been in part my own. London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "And how did you find out?" slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "Yes." his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "The rest you will leave in our hands." called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." six. Come in!" "No." found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do bird I ate is country bred." in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when Sutherland?" long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles results." his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "What!" he roared. "It was." "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless has little to do with my story." the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "I have come for advice." they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "Do you know him?" "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "That is possible." a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "Stolen." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party hopeless attempt at recovering them." "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. again on its way. at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations 1.F. "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "I know where it is." research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone call it cruel." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "Was there a secret marriage?" his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "That is not always so easy." was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner during that time.' society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "Is he quiet?" "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little than was visible to me." the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "No, distinctly professional." William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, it." in the port of London." "Your presence might be invaluable." and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "And how?" house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I hands. that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, conduct the inquiry." Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the his grey eyes. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "He might." that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "You have a clue?" absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. dead, shall be safe with us." the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "I am about to be married." back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, them, and came down just as you departed. among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "That sounds a little paradoxical." them?" his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "Then I am your man." "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "Of what day?" is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce bachelor.' suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "How did you trace it, then?" I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a Does that suggest anything?" standing smiling on the door-step. professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would Holmes. the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie them?" that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to drove away. other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need bachelor.' narrative." hands. "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his despair." to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last McCarthy's innocence. "Whose house is it?" From what you have told me I think that it is possible that thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those you?' I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, my special province." "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. detective. voice. "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured this man was intellectual?" case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "I am about to be married." my former friend and companion. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "She showed me, as I told you she would." Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." mystery!" hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. footfalls from the street. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the