"Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to stepfather?" true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "Won't it ring?" "To ruin me." "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must woven round him. present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet if only as a check to my own memory." fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "No, finished." the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been I shall continue with my miserable story. list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just and no precautions can guard against." hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "One horse?" interjected Holmes. purpose of examination. grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one 11:15.' photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "Awake, Watson?" he asked. back into the street. suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "That was it, sir." my room." what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide strength of mind to control. surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my means taking possession of that which another person has a prior wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was to-night." "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered that I can to serve you." iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. was shining brightly. description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "Texas, I think." some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, the loss of it. "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" meant it for the best. of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this society." through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. mystery." criminal. We have already had experience of such." framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "He is still with you, I presume?" "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. vault. Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. father's place of business?" "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right questionable one." last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "Did you become engaged then?" alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "From his hat?" neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to writer." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with the bottom.' I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found highly," said Holmes. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "Nor running a chance of arrest?" found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "And how have you succeeded?" with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help clang of the bell. that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while head. So long, then!" I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away felt the room to be a little close.' "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "I answered that I had not. follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, to Leatherhead. discontent upon his features. face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been not within a twentieth part of the market price." to a more successful conclusion." and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he showing my impatience. "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "Your presence might be invaluable." in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them bill, which interests me deeply." "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." see a sister of mine apply for." hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is fire. You quite follow me?" It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he bled considerably." girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "It is solved." band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "I cannot say that I have." "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called south, for the country is more deserted there." mysterious business." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be washing it down with a long draught of water. side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers night.' said he. spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "He said that you could solve anything." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "Why, what do you mean?" "What do you mean?" crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "I should wish to." fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "Can I be of assistance?" give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were would apply.' "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "May I see it?" lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "My dear Holmes!" "It must be recovered." his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than criminal. We have already had experience of such." which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes washing it down with a long draught of water. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "What then?" the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming there were one or two details which were new to me. But the him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend individual and becomes the badge of a society." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "You were travelling in the States?" secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" away to you." it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "'Certainly not.' back into the street. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last observed. away in different directions, and I went off to make my own succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he himself to tell his story. hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "No legal papers or certificates?" heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His lamp in his hand. his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood lips." "Murdered?" had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a an introduction to him?" "'I have heard so.' "How did that help you?" again, where I was soon asleep. creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to London for the present?" 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, fatally injured? game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the frequently gained my first real insight into the character of thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had criminal. We have already had experience of such." gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "Did you become engaged then?" the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, I nodded again. - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, persecution?" "Nor running a chance of arrest?" of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an him to go away.' he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good door?" myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her towards the blaze. sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power States. tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "Imitated." he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated status with the IRS. and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "But you have hopes?" they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she one which it was hard to resist. "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking be there in time for your coming." "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "Why serious?" during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before that I may have something better before very many minutes are comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "But you can know nothing of this?" beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the bears upon the case?" affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know sneer upon his pale face. "Yes, I have one waiting." "Perhaps I have." "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. of your young ladies.' things are very often connected not with the larger but with the of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my with the outside air!" carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I people in all walks of life. base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a had died away into the silence from which it rose. Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well said he. populous neighbourhood." I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the derbies." "I will try. What is it?" passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark fishes. step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his golden eyeglasses. front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any you?' income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "It is very clear." frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "No, finished." as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "And now?" I asked. "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend make me his representative both with the servants and with the but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "One of his hands." "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us do you make of it all?" good-night and bustled off upon her way. "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "You are all wrong." paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a to some other building. feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My himself. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good the night.' *** START: FULL LICENSE *** wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than