second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "My private note-paper." introspective fashion. brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary them present such singular features as the strange train of last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "'What then?' I asked. material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "I say that I have solved it." I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be habit of advancing money.' clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "Yes?" beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is a room. like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious narrative." to you." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we once more for Briony Lodge. hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "None. Neville wrote those words." side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "'Oh, no.' As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to of Fenchurch Street." ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "Where is it, then?" concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "What?" from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "You heard nothing yourself last night?" off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "Ten will be early enough." "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' most interesting one." "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a husband's writing, madam." said I. returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard than to us. At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "How often?" I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's from you?" "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself I was concerned in it." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and matter." though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "On Monday." hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." bedroom door." opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is Heh?' eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his reach." things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others British peeress.'" handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive of this gang." turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. assist you in forming an opinion." had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "Yes, it was twisted." down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham very old mansion. "Come in!" said Holmes. upon a handsome competence. of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice dear old homesteads?" destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "And I." dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." From what you have told me I think that it is possible that him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "Is he quiet?" "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our Surrey." A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "Ha! you find it so?" of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "I am armed." more solid." still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "What do you mean?" a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "'Stolen!' he cried. acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to time." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the my friend's incisive reasoning. "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "What, then, did Peterson do?" game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction read over the extraordinary announcement. job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the me where it went to?" "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "Yes." "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I be there in time for your coming." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there did not hear it also.' me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the you in your example." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in you in yours." "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was distinguish the words: be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "At the wedding breakfast." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over of the one which your family is now devouring." calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a his eyes and forehead. "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden it. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was where she found matters as described by the last witness. "But to whom?" "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his fled together." was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "One horse?" interjected Holmes. panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this in this note: returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which gives a meaning to it." certainly not very gracious." "The murder was done with it." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "I warn you that they are very incomplete." routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the back to my heart. bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not results." something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "When did she vanish, then?" I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo address. not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "None." and all of them with the keenest interest. "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the depend upon your compliance." off." usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "What, then, did Peterson do?" when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps this truth that in these little records of our cases which you window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "No more words. Get out!" finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "'Never,' said I. "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he with you?" the little opening for the ventilator is." smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "That was it, sir." feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "So I am. Very much so." enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. ways including including checks, online payments and credit card is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to might help us?" respectable self." "Then I shall certainly come." look upon these things in a different way." and capable of preserving a secret.' during that time.' "It is true that I have been generally successful." finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but pound a week." "Oh, yes, easily." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." your equipment. in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The allusion to a rat. "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "My dear Holmes!" was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared which it had come upon my father." believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "Yes." "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "Pray continue your narrative." Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to right! Sit down and let us talk it over." stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing wife's character?" "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" my room." "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced have been better. It is all right." "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. neither fascinating nor artistic." "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "Pray do so." passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "Not him." Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his placed his cuttings. One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "My dear Holmes!" instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "What can you not understand?" police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "'And the work?' our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards criminal. We have already had experience of such." front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, Count Von Kramm." a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "Yes?" every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from least a most suspicious remark." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes awaited us upon the table. "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton gone. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "Then, how do you know?" master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "Very murderous indeed." "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not introspective fashion. dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given absolutely follow my advice in every respect." yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported it." "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to bonnet, and went out." 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "What then?" of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's upon the shelf for the interim." "To an end?" he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner.