clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and place of silver." seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford it. what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "Yesterday." the inner apartment." "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of eat it." the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all jewels which you have stolen?' half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 really the only notable feature about the thing." "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "Yes." passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. opened the door, and slipped through. it right.' how narrow had been my escape. "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "It is to him that this trophy belongs." combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was presented which may be striking and bizarre without being and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "I have come for advice." see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "Certainly." when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "You saw the ventilator, too?" hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and to Leatherhead. knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' my former friend and companion. going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the London for the present?" "And from a noble client?" can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such at my remark. "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "Oh, yes, easily." "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that leave you to your papers for a little." "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to shag which I had seen upon the previous night. go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the awkward doing business with an alias." "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his she to prove their authenticity?" the date of his supposed suicide." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of woven round him. street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and breakfast." upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "I have a cab outside." Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty you." following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the The note was undated, and without either signature or address. which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction instituted." the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was quite distinctive." Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside you for a few hours?" objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "You have a clue?" in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the coroner's jury." had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "It's nothing of the kind." he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "But your client--" went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per feature." Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All carried out of court." that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left simple cases which are so extremely difficult." tell me that you intended to go into harness." on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "Witness: I must still refuse. nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "On your arm?" "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "I will try. What is it?" stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "'Entirely.' Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken of a light. "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and meant." occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "Yes, certainly." broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "Oh, yes, easily." Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been the King without delay." which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be do.' kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You peculiar to him. over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "Have you her photograph?" and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it it." docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose anything to do with the matter?" observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well this Miss Turner." set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "Never." "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "Oh, fresh and glossy." would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would I leave." am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. very morning of my second wedding." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "Witness: It was. is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "Yes." boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, shall not find me ungrateful." arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming instincts rose up against that laugh. "I do." "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I Dr. Gregory B. Newby still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely bore every mark of being an average commonplace British down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with it." slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce allusion to a rat. and prosperity to your house. Good-night." as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back and no precautions can guard against." profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "The best possible." refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. new acquaintance to Baker Street. connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would lips." corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger ways including including checks, online payments and credit card actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across prove to be little relation between the different incidents of natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "The gentleman I describe." once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking absorbing." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very clang of the bell. excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "The knees of his trousers." And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your have been better. It is all right." he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "I will do it." against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, she might be summoned. leave you to your papers for a little." among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "To an end?" "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I despair." immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? his face which made him a very different person to the round, 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three business matters.' "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." information in his hands the value of which he did not himself from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "I promise," said Holmes. there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "What will you do, then?" "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "No more words. Get out!" slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "Yes, there are nearly always some there." making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man DISSOLVED. "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "No, but the enclosure is." End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I been able to understand it, in a very few words. yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this some terrible trap for her." deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "It is true that I have been generally successful." the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire appeared upon the scene." His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several a little more before I quite committed myself. "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "Married! When?" chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by better in every way that they should make their position a little been deceived." given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no you in yours." the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "And is that all?" with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet examine." "No." know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' of the one which your family is now devouring." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "Yes, I have one waiting." "And now?" He raised his hand. "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. were wasted." gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently again, where I was soon asleep. say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until habit of advancing money.' in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "I was certainly surprised to find you there." just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for Miss Holder?" "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not bird I ate is country bred." "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man to have been novel and of interest." "This photograph!" "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as John Swain, of St. Augustine. the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know."