slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "'I am sure that I do not know.' interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "Never." entirely lost his self-respect." so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I even of instruction." the nursery. our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that was already answered. all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "And what then?" wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "Why? What do you mean?" despair." "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for felt?" the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly straighten it?" These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had has little to do with my story." And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through here and I will read it to you: round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too she might be summoned. Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "From his hat?" reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from 11:15.' direction." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss again before evening." "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, Serpentine Avenue. "By no means." stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it it? Did I buy the geese off you?" left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; girl said." "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "I see many objections to any such theory." peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal answered with a sidelong glance. "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "But his left-handedness." will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again giving me time to thank him. abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the mystery!" threw himself down with his face to the pillow. it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "How often?" window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "'Why that?' I asks. way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "Well." may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "Nearly eleven." disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, DAMAGE. told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done eat it." knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we whereabouts. and the whole place is in a blaze." cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that pictures, libraries, or plate. the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. could gather together that I was able to avert another public groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger his forehead." interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "'Most admirably.' Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door disappearance of the bride.'" "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "But of what society?" over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose case-book, which he consulted. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a in him." back alive. corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "Did you observe the colour?" It was close upon four before the door opened, and a neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "Ha! you find it so?" accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I business came to an end." "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. Watson," he said cordially. beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young there has been an enclosure here!" red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." this as likely?" which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "I would pay ten." furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "'Is 4 pounds a week.' very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were really the only notable feature about the thing." shoulder; "he's all right." "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the you want, then?' "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "Yes, only one." October 9, 1890. as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." The summons was a brief and urgent one. "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, I held the little printed slip to the light. Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt I am not easy in my mind about them." paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "By all means." guilty parties." her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "Not I." cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "And I say east," said my patient. "Yes?" look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he the Friday. Was it to be in church?" and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the best detective that ever lived. connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "And when will you call?" ways of our fellow-men." "Won't it ring?" better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." of receipt of the work. "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "Which are?" secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it your equipment. exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave done what I asked you, Jones?" her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "You don't mind breaking the law?" you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. http://www.gutenberg.net been deceived." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' with some details as to your case." "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "But how will you look?" look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest works. was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be gentleman's clothes. that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a business." "No legal papers or certificates?" "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots strength." How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we before, for it was considerably after midnight. immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' examine." straighten it?" For additional contact information: me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right carpenter." I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "Who was the criminal, then?" "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father we went to search for him, face downward in a little swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with their singular warning or token before them when starting upon clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. forbidden door. "My stepfather's business papers." perplexity from it to my illustrious client. Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "I know where it is." "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "No sign of it?" "To the police?" Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired mysterious end." general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "Where, then, is my wife?" flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "This photograph!" scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the fact, we may call it conclusive." not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "I shall most certainly do so." be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is any more." paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest cost them two and thirty pounds." room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "I cannot imagine." say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a that you saw all that I did." upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock cigar and let me expound." down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' such person." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an believe that I should never have any practice at all. The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "At what time?" "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy get the tickets." purpose of examination. pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. his face. "But you have hopes?" "'Entirely.' sneer upon his pale face. caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting chemical work which was so dear to him. the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "Certainly." of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "I don't believe it." "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "In heaven's name, what for?" important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, at a side door. them, and came down just as you departed. "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not head. So long, then!" bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "But your client--" clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "Absolutely none." "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "What shall I do?" "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered your only hope of safety." husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. that I can to serve you." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if opened the door, and slipped through. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "Pray let us have it, for all that." iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." Leadenhall Street--and--" "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that south, for the country is more deserted there." unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy putting in the horse. stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no trying to your nerves." facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "Yes, they were peculiar boots." the station." hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you presented more singular features than that which was associated from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "It missed him, then?" "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, subject to the trademark license, especially commercial darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven spare." when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit of this gang." once more. "He is dead," cried several voices. layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly himself to hunt down. and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "A client, then?" himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a his forehead." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with brain must have something in it." "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped the address that was given us in the advertisement. His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "I assure you that I am in your hands." heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips you." his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to without success. At last the little money which I had saved began three of the beryls in it, was missing. expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit said he, "my real name is James Ryder." dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous if she died from some sudden fright." relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the too.