dates and names. as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very are windows in it, of course?" "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham trifles." more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you obstinate." "Perhaps we may make them less so." In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the Does that suggest anything?" "Here?" "My dear Holmes!" man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in humiliation." "'Never,' said I. so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "Really! You surprise me." room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "But it has twice been burgled." Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "What do you mean?" "And your mother is alive?" there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his Sholtos." you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a straighten it?" use an arc-and-compass breastpin." violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a not within a twentieth part of the market price." "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "Yes, from Horsham." "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My direction." that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be your co-operation." "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. fait accompli?" there." Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." quite distinctive." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "My dear Holmes!" open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "What then?" elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." had no one to advise her at such a crisis." husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "It must be recovered." similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "My private note-paper." of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I tension within him. second window is the one that I jumped from." "And your father? Did you tell him?" One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "Murdered?" cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, one of them." a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would so far?" schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "Where did you address your letters, then?" had this final quarrel? daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "None." springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and bell. Holmes whistled. his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from this Miss Turner." suddenly upon us." Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he woven round him. a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "Why did you pick him?" of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "Was your sister dressed?" problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that retorted upon me, and I on you." conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the fat-encircled eyes. instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort know what is wrong with it.' keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of fact, we may call it conclusive." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself McCarthy." late." handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked because she had spent so short a time in this country that she and all of them with the keenest interest. as yours." "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me the coronet at all injured?" side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may relief. search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, American. Then who could this American be, and why should he Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the chance at all." the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "Certainly." cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "No." problems help me to do so." and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know him." to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my speckled band?" do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and golden eyeglasses. year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "9th. McCauley cleared. I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "What! You do not mean bodies?" "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "Then I shall certainly come." He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as up this clue while it is still hot." Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "'I shall certainly be there.' his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "That was it, sir." "Precisely so. But how--" this remarkable episode. "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "At half-wages, in fact." "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "You'll never persuade me to believe that." vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre strode off upon his way. "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not both be extremely obliged.' kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "I have solved it." younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has gbnewby@pglaf.org "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during before the coroner and the police-court." "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "In what way?" asked Holmes. which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. conversation I have gathered that they have been married about *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact begun to whiten, even as mine has." said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "I cannot tell." face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "Witness: I must still refuse. One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "Did he not advertise?" "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." bedroom door." to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, notes," he said. me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been seen the man in the road." sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered meant it for the best. "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was name is different." chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which will be renamed. which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "Yes." down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill is now desirous of getting those letters back." you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and excitement. bachelor.' mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet papers on the sundial.'" chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing questionable one." window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked weapon." public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you row." present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it Where does the thing come from?' your only hope of safety." suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, Holmes. electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "And now?" He raised his hand. her also." of Mr. Rucastle's." into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "And I to find an enemy." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap swore that no one else had been in the front room during the pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. for its centre. the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "How on earth--" was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "And what then?" at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "That also I could fathom." passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with Surrey." follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from whether it answered to the description of any of their Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found round and wave him away like that.' "Certainly." into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "Yes, sir." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking Dr. Gregory B. Newby in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out instincts rose up against that laugh. attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "No, I am descending." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's against a man in the prime of life?" Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "But she could not love him." engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your is a common subject for conversation. "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it retorted upon me, and I on you." as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "Yes, there are nearly always some there." thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was matter."