enter Dr. Roylott's room." everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "Very murderous indeed." any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that know all about it," he snarled. down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "'Ample.' "Who was the criminal, then?" when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "How do you know, then?" doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the sake, don't!" this unhappy family?" however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "Not social, then?" panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." awkward doing business with an alias." address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in never came back." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind correct than the official force." Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right upon the shelf for the interim." The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "Holmes, the busybody!" continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to to-night?' paper in the air. "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of and all of them with the keenest interest. not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "'About the same.' "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his since then to throw any light upon what became of him." I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered until night should bring an explanation. that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "And Miss Sutherland?" charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "I was afraid that you were engaged." clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. the running down." lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible have an American origin." own family. money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building sake, don't!" home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "Certainly." that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "Precisely." I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "And you don't know his address?" donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "Very. But will he see it?" Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "Why did you pick him?" "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest was once confined in the cab my mission was practically end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "Then you may entirely rely on me." points in connection with it which never have been, and probably Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the promised to bring home. produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the pictures, libraries, or plate. he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "And help." He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "How did that help you?" to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train murdered man." only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and upon the white wrist. for its centre. "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "Then I shall certainly come." the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you entirely devoid of interest." "Texas, I think." there is a decided draught." away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any business in the City. She little knew what. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "Was the window open?" "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he an introduction to him?" saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long fish-monger and a tide-waiter." in the port of London." It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. your room." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some relief. fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in written. very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "What, then, did Peterson do?" someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements someone who had been in Australia." common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "No, but the enclosure is." Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he client, rising. shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are drawing your inferences." "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" for the market.' between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "'Where to?' learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've mysterious end." following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "It came here." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "Your French gold?" which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. just ask you whether you had heard it.' she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very pierced for earrings?" "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a Arthur Conan Doyle used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. you?" confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "It must be recovered." conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. begun to whiten, even as mine has." "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. to miss it." "I have my revolver," said I. gone before you can get him to hospital." "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" Holmes. banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with ago." were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." the warnings." At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "Imitated." incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "'Certainly not.' you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several have got?" its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith memory. "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. not within a twentieth part of the market price." slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to bore every mark of being an average commonplace British A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "Nothing." prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a success. "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You recover the gem." Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had of them has the shutters up.' she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "Nor running a chance of arrest?" mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out six. Come in!" "What! Had he lost his wife?" "What I expected to see." change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival the room while you explain this matter?" explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who it with his own hands." "No legal papers or certificates?" "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have Young McCarthy must be got off, however." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after Dr. Gregory B. Newby Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, maid will bring up your coffee." would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and purpose equally well?" weapon." it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the the coronet at all injured?" "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons begun to whiten, even as mine has." upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "Certainly." the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "Her father is very rich?" vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "'Why that?' I asks. peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "But his lameness?" until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. putting in the horse. "Precisely." appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "How on earth--" hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of look upon these things in a different way." "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is II. my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the think you a quite exceptional woman." "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, other, as fresh and trim as possible. strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been there was no need for father to know." name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be written. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "'Quite sure, dad.' said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." way in." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, question. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "'I am sure if I had known--' would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution shall use the carriage to-night." threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after following enigmatical notices: to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship is entirely a question of barometric pressure." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the Gutenberg-tm License. after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. man. as the one I chose?' simple cases which are so extremely difficult." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents then?" Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, is worth.' empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "And how have you succeeded?" natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his side. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less opened the door, and slipped through. or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and fuss that is made over them." have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "It is very kind of you." anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the do you make of it all?" "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "Stolen, then." ways including including checks, online payments and credit card crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "My Mary? Impossible!" which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden forbidden door. plantation.' "None." pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the the tragedy. "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "'Most admirably.' refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its narrative." assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to the bottom.' up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, everything which you would wish to know." passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. there has been an enclosure here!" undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If overpowering excitement and concern. Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four if only as a check to my own memory." "Dark enough and sinister enough." many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "Absolutely?" may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out about. were unconscious?" "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet made his money." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather said I. lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many