the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. cheerful." a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the assist you in forming an opinion." strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "And Miss Sutherland?" reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' which should have the effect of calling the attention of the the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her feature." singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new the station." "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a believe that I should never have any practice at all. superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking better in every way that they should make their position a little 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes hands. waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he he bowed and left the room without another word. over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but I nodded to show that I had heard. "Who was the criminal, then?" scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "Then I shall certainly come." "'In my own bureau.' clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me heavy and sharp instrument." "Whose house is it?" forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "Married! When?" "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "My dear Holmes!" plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "What shall I do?" and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not never to learn it at all." bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "Never." "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of in his power. at my remark. "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward best detective that ever lived. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, is," said he presently: "No." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of Dr. Gregory B. Newby Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was is four-and-twenty." the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "Where is it, then?" "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded a little more before I quite committed myself. had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of writer." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his 1.E.9. his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "On the contrary, this is the right side." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of the very letters. But what is this written above them?' has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the investigation." invisible to me," I remarked. it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had characteristics, but those are the more obvious." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "'Yes, I promise.' plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "Do you go out much in society?" scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she yourselves in at night?" "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "It was." Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "The decline of his fortunes, then?" He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern himself to tell his story. he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the know what is wrong with it.' You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are he. broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "By no means." the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "Nothing." "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering been deceived." I shall communicate with you." "Well." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "Nothing?" you do it in twenty minutes!' You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where that before taking the final step I should like to submit the all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook note?" read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have The telegram which we eventually received came late one night before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his outside. "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "I think that I had better go, Holmes." the Assizes." one of the states of the Union." reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." the Assizes." It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through call the police, let the police find what they can.' rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I answered with a sidelong glance. his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her shoulder; "he's all right." "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point kindly on the shoulder. with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "You have compromised yourself seriously." and have this put in the evening papers." play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but sneer upon his pale face. feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the keep the flames under. "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a persecution?" photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your companion. young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "In answer to an advertisement." served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial records." Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "Yes?" objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "My dear Holmes!" "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "It goes to the housekeeper's room." with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, morning." "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly fishes. her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his is so. I know all about McCarthy." Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity DISSOLVED. beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" individual and becomes the badge of a society." "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" over with notes and figures. family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss him!" souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. you came in." was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, papers on the sundial.'" at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, conclusions. during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own anything to do with the matter?" It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. long narrative. 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "Then the page we have seen--" Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to and have this put in the evening papers." of his shoulders. as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. woman." of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent yourselves in at night?" "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each strength." bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend floor. learned something! Where are the gems?" she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "What can you not understand?" "Dirty?" "But what harm can there be in that?" the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "Game for a morning drive?" Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. I shall continue with my miserable story. envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not colonel looking down at me. eat it." persecution?" fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "Then, how do you know?" very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental public press." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat have one." business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "No, finished." cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "And from a noble client?" I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of several quiet little villages up there." of the one which your family is now devouring." Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive extraordinary contortions. London for the present?" "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. derbies." fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for despair." where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never crackling voice. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore memory. us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he appeared upon the scene." "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, arrested. You then--" not as remarkable as your advertisement." the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from but preventing her from injuring another. exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. wedding?" incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as question you as to those details which seem to me to be most spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the friends, not even his own brother. know all about it," he snarled. congenial hunt. horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "10th. John Swain cleared. "You are hungry," I remarked. produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "Perhaps I have." instincts rose up against that laugh. was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my Street. dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the against a man in the prime of life?" grasp, he hurried from the room. I was concerned in it." Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a perplexity from it to my illustrious client. Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "I cannot as yet see any connection." wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, have had none more fantastic than this." vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "Dirty?" and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he been anything against him. He had for years been known as a hour?' filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "I see no marks." speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "What shall I do?" have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal