he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we fled together." before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross not, dad?" she asked. would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every very morning of my second wedding." formed some opinion?" "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet fuss that is made over them." believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss to-morrow." "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could had a long day." his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "It is true that I have been generally successful." hereditary King of Bohemia." standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and you." appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the weighed down with some great anxiety. "'Certainly not.' rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "But his left-handedness." aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "And the murderer?" "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "But I am all in the dark." my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" Stoke Moran." "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, him, that man would not have given me such complete information sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and was a loud and authoritative tap. true." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "You saw the ventilator, too?" in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips stalked out of the room. 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "Nearly eleven." strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "And how?" is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "Ha! you find it so?" "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "That was it, sir." conceal it?" thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "Was she in good spirits?" "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or annoyance, but no jest. that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "I cannot tell." late!' "Look there!" said he. been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "'And the work?' the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "He disappeared so suddenly." "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor sooner or later she must fall a victim. "'In my own bureau.' a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed think you a quite exceptional woman." as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his will find little credit to be gained out of this case." two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in investigation." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than investigation." which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the Pool. Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. see me here to avoid scandal." and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic manager. skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of pressing in one house as in another. politicians who had been sent down from the North. "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. until night should bring an explanation. mystery!" preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "'About the same.' the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "Very truly yours, We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "Not in a good cause." fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as murdered man." company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I absolutely follow my advice in every respect." comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the information in his hands the value of which he did not himself purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "I would pay ten." "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman attention." there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "Really! You surprise me." "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this vanished into the darkness. the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be been shamefully used." "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "Could he throw no light?" much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds look upon these things in a different way." down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "Then I can wait in the next room." hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. hand, madam?" plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "You are all wrong." "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a gentleman's clothes. intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his if I call to-morrow?" conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when business?" they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable now. It seems that there had been some informality about their Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but that I am arrested." It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, Stoke Moran." I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. acquaintance?" "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we You want to know what became of those geese?" lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the frequently gained my first real insight into the character of had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "And why?" affection." "It is very kind of you." disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred appointment with me for six o'clock?" forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "Ah, but I was recommended to you." stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "Was he the only applicant?" perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child that I am arrested." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right even of instruction." other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant furiously. not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "Did your wife hear all this?" "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows laugh and put his lips to my ear. down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the your co-operation." straightened it out again. nothing of it?" Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal families. Now for the facts. I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "Yes." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "Tired-looking or fresh?" The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater kindly on the shoulder. "You think so, too?" without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand that, and I came down." window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever of your young ladies.' "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "That's no good." deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "It is solved." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend frequently gained my first real insight into the character of over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then lamp in his hand. "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "Yes, he did." frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The for securing the situation." warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, to some other building. cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and is a common subject for conversation. the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook second window is the one that I jumped from." one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "It was." company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he village inn over there?" conclusions. interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." examine." occurred." heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked himself to tell his story. "How long did she speak to this Alice?" them?" works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She get her out of the way." "'And what salary do you ask?' conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "Nor running a chance of arrest?" When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "That's no good." "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "None." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my upon the white wrist. when your master had gone out." Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do whether it answered to the description of any of their would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "Won't it ring?" "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we handed it to him. gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which note?" farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is not, dad?" she asked. depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he more solid." above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and examine." "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and at my remark. his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "'No, I know no one in these parts.' reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of present." waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, the general public were present, then?" by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "What of the rat, then?" for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It some terrible trap for her." form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with weighed down with some great anxiety. company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "I will try. What is it?" "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three forehead.