to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me matters immensely." "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his stalked out of the room. and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "Quite so." the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "It is very kind of you." girl said." 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done all?" "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "ARAT," I read. impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are ventilator." to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a papers." Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "By no means." case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and him, that man would not have given me such complete information "'Certainly not. But why?' my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the if I call to-morrow?" and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been quite distinctive." which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "9th. McCauley cleared. there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. been anything against him. He had for years been known as a pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, did not hear it also.' crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an to me. Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a certainly not very gracious." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "And it is--" fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "Where is it, then?" "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of thirty. was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he hour?' "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "And how?" have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for your only hope of safety." "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, very old mansion. the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were asked. who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "None." Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "He disappeared so suddenly." was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, useful material for showing traces. The double line a little I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "I never have." "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this Does that suggest anything?" into her hand at the door and which lured her within their only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been she to prove their authenticity?" pity, because in other respects you would really have done very and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "Nothing." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more might help us?" Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client to-night?" I asked. view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "Do you receive much company?" he asked. abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to flock.' "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is him nearly every evening." matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my conduct the inquiry." "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "He disappeared so suddenly." "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "Never." "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With never will be, entirely cleared up. unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which was feeling which was the fattest.' "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. during the last few years, and there are many noble families to and the colonel ushered me in. laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a man. benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the disturbance in my wife." heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he seen the man in the road." all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of second window is the one that I jumped from." years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons had this final quarrel? of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I sufficient punishment." beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. points in connection with it which never have been, and probably a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever lids now and glanced across at his visitor. adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the entirely devoid of interest." "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us arrested. You then--" them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. and the colonel ushered me in. awaited us upon the table. and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four voice, changing her seat as requested. my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question anything to do with the matter?" if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your miles off. and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "You will not go there first?" discontent upon his features. "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with village inn over there?" civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see assist you in forming an opinion." the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or had formerly been in part my own. printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a But Holmes shook his head gravely. labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable You want to know what became of those geese?" "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would felt the room to be a little close.' of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and you for a few hours?" he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace seen the man in the road." DISSOLVED. refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "But not more so than I to find you." Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "You are certainly joking, Holmes." pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "But who is he?" relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen so.' "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a girl said." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through did not hear it also.' jewels which you have stolen?' of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and ventilator." has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "And how?" "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. Heh?' head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I presented which may be striking and bizarre without being case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the thirty. "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "But how could you guess what the motive was?" your own bird, so if you wish--" so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it and your relations to her." "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has closing the door. They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to excitement. "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note bearing upon the case." then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "'Certainly not. But why?' "No, I think that I'll take it." Pope's Court, Fleet Street." smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where which are rolled in Rotterdam." you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this good for you to do.' Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a to-morrow." say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "Where did you address your letters, then?" Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about of this gang." Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "'And the work?' "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast mystery!" gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary were wasted." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the fasten all the windows?" "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "And how did you find out?" and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt desk. Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now instincts rose up against that laugh. "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the I leave." misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "Quite so." I am not easy in my mind about them." "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at down. framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his chemical work which was so dear to him. the salesman. woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "To an end?" I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor definite end. "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too the salesman. for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He