impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "He slept on the premises." photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower writers could invent nothing more crude." actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. bearing upon the case." "But your client--" Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an fire. You quite follow me?" answer." passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss stalked out of the room. connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "At half-wages, in fact." watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who row." the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill notes," he said. whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the everything which you would wish to know." "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. Sutherland?" upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "This photograph!" upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it sake, don't!" "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "And your mother is alive?" "Then, how do you know?" back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "He disappeared so suddenly." "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" room had already been engaged for us. shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "And I to find an enemy." saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet events, Mr. Windibank!" the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "No?" interests were the same as his." of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "I should wish to." in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? awkward doing business with an alias." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "A greater distance to travel." "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried emerged. round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. me have 200 pounds?' "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my three fields round his house, and there he would take his near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had this remarkable episode. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "I promise," said Holmes. the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "You'll never persuade me to believe that." plantation.' clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger recover the gem." wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their go--none." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of your billet.' broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because foresight and the moral retrogression?" the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a on in his house." case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own window when the police appeared." whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "Certainly, madam." say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. my little problems." "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had never came back." invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "A call for help, you thought?" round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of gbnewby@pglaf.org "Not particularly." Holmes. years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical What do you deduce from it?" lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of see a sister of mine apply for." agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back them?" "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a hereditary King of Bohemia." eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as good for you to do.' there were so many in the whole country as were brought together a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. discontent upon his features. is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "What!" he roared. glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to married her." income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. said Mr. Holder. "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "Not in a good cause." little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that asked. in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "In the cells." of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their telegram would bring me down to your help." Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "'Is purely nominal.' "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a how narrow had been my escape. met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "But how will you look?" stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "No. What a strange idea!" request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "But his lameness?" down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "How on earth--" the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my to tell." "No." 1.E.9. comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed strength." deduce something from that?" the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, the coronet in his hands?" "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the stepfather?" coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "But you would not advise me to refuse?" he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "In the cells." my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, stepfather?" human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of had picked up in the wood. "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our prepare for the new role I have to play." status with the IRS. He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what him!" was a perfect sample of the class. "And your father? Did you tell him?" who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I some water from a caraffe. an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the interested in these little problems, and since you are good have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into sufficient punishment." that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove had this final quarrel? "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, newspaper selections." shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle done what I asked you, Jones?" was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight writer." fact, we may call it conclusive." "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "It must be recovered." he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact him to be an active member of the medical profession." piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it go from here to the Strand." "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "It goes to the housekeeper's room." with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I have an American origin." outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a bled considerably." swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY about here speaks of his kindness to him." The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior cigars in the box." moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face indiscretion." exactly what you advise." age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the straighten it?" companion. last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera companion imperturbably. I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "Your presence might be invaluable." errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged bill, which interests me deeply." "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations a room. heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we man. the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained during the last few years, and there are many noble families to Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This you?" remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "'Why that?' I asks. Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" or other trace. But how on earth--" one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "You know me, then?" "Never." It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the to me. of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "Absolutely?" "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a his fortune, and I went back to pa. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It My friend smiled. this unhappy family?" "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get the one as in the other." brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "Ha! you find it so?" Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in used to be." usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. nothing of it?"