Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "Stolen." help us in this matter." charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you to tell." "What do you mean?" "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may me have 200 pounds?' lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "Who was the criminal, then?" said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about not as remarkable as your advertisement." central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a least a most suspicious remark." fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "But how?" very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," of a light. your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the became a certainty. week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "Just look it up, then." indeed which he could not unravel. We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and feature." both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "'Certainly not. But why?' web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "Yes, he did." bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank business came to an end." again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm dates and names. "Ample." "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this crowd. outsides of the windows. "Has he come with you to-night?" with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "Who by?" Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which skylight. opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." at home. set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "We have tried and failed." "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "'I have heard so.' grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you a very grave face. am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "Nothing?" the station." "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "I should like to see him very much." was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "I do." The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "'You doubt its value?' he asked. VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We done what I asked you, Jones?" man. shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He ashen face. daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told developed." green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to he bowed and left the room without another word. stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it photograph?" Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "You are hungry," I remarked. brought there to personate someone, and the real person is more solid." the running down." flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when your billet.' "I am in hopes that she does." All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that presume?" heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I Street. south, for the country is more deserted there." present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country hair?' would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "I fear not." to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, hereditary King of Bohemia." "Which are?" as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; used to be." certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" excitement. Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "VIOLET HUNTER." thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "'Certainly,' I answered. understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this I leave." description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he more terrible than the truth. lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and But Holmes shook his head gravely. "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "Your presence might be invaluable." Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn business matters.' from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is weary and pale-looking. "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon had a long day." implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the shag which I had seen upon the previous night. impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "So it appears." "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "On the contrary, this is the right side." "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and chemical work which was so dear to him. smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took grasp, he hurried from the room. side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded hard-headed British jury." "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a bonnet, and went out." "Nearly eleven." McCarthy." correct than the official force." upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an confronted him. "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that stammered. let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the to-night." "Deserted you?" "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a Leadenhall Street--and--" go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' where she found matters as described by the last witness. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to to go into your room and bar your shutters?" the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an guilty one." 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened call it cruel." "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "Then how many are there?" "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "To ruin me." Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "I shall be delighted." squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, husband's writing, madam." dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "It is solved." "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of delighted to hear it," he said. While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. together. right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "I should wish to." and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off point our research must commence, and we will begin it by drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat Farm upon the left." office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further intimate personal affairs in this public manner." occupations.' glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and bird I ate is country bred." "There are none." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "But it has twice been burgled." the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, presented which may be striking and bizarre without being know that the truth is known." heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most newspaper selections." finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "I cannot think." 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one for its centre. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I I. rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he front of me. clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite purpose equally well?" clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a cigars in their mouths. you." vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. never will be, entirely cleared up. he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "The vanishing of the lady." "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a putting in the horse. observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock it. old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to he bowed and left the room without another word. of them has the shutters up.' "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and photograph?" enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil which was all perfectly true. with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were You want to know what became of those geese?" helping a boy to put up the shutters. of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I pierced for earrings?" "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I second window is the one that I jumped from." as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs Holmes." and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me of Fenchurch Street." something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "'And the work?' scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the what I may call a really hard day's work." see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "It was an hour's good drive." whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "Upon what point?" o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she cigars in their mouths. sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "You have the photograph?" anything to a woman, for she would have her way." journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "And that is--" more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room it. unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your article?" when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but Literary Archive Foundation certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few a little more before I quite committed myself. taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord she slowly sank and died without having recovered her When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to answered with a sidelong glance. "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on is entirely a question of barometric pressure." returned to France?" possible that we could bring him back to her? "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "My own seal." office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "Yes, it would be as well." "Where did you address your letters, then?" come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is is four-and-twenty." brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "On Monday." "Then he might have called to you?" 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to which was all perfectly true. "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "One?" fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "Nothing." deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." You can understand that this register and diary may implicate not come at once?" waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "But what will you do?" paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to you for a few hours?" terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the