1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this which are rolled in Rotterdam." a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson despair." his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. dates and names. "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." official police." fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. forehead. were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "Did you become engaged then?" "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was might help us?" from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then amused." bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "Have you it here?" held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the over his head with a sweet womanly caress. and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "Yes, but only for you and me." enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg out of this horrible affair." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood one else, I think." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' your sleep?' surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon hard-headed British jury." "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative forehead. myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly death." rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. morning." had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "When did she vanish, then?" "'Yes, sir.' active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY fact, we may call it conclusive." having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked points in connection with it which never have been, and probably seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be again on its way. call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just one's self under obligations.' with you?" in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" unprofitable." he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward I think that I could be of assistance to you." "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "Yes, I have one waiting." had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off room. out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little Where does the thing come from?' change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "How did you trace it, then?" pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "No, but the enclosure is." floor. turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some absorbing." burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." Pool. "What do you mean?" to miss it." work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average over his head with a sweet womanly caress. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for more solid." really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go there were one or two details which were new to me. But the cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint or in danger--" "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "Oh, yes, easily." the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from character. estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "My stepfather's business papers." all?" one of the states of the Union." his face. that he will be back before evening." I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "But what harm can there be in that?" Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another IS male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning never came back." Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "Was there a secret marriage?" then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of forbidden door. "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "My dear Holmes!" "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge bedroom door." the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, acted in my house last night?" during that time.' glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I do.' over his head with a sweet womanly caress. wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "Absolutely none." vanished into the darkness. devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." future lives." remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your up this clue while it is still hot." With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "'Ample.' absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your public press." that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "But you were on a friendly footing?" to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and detective. from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "Well, it is a possible supposition." several quiet little villages up there." "Game for a morning drive?" dear old homesteads?" happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened tear off another piece?' "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I respectable self." then?" and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his that you can jump it.' "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "Married! When?" collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to is so. I know all about McCarthy." the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to asked with his eyes open. "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup acted in my house last night?" the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." house for five minutes.' Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest indiscretion." pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her read it out to me." of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in speckled band?" Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He retorted upon me, and I on you." became a certainty. upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so wall." large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "Yes, the wine-cellar." and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred not within a twentieth part of the market price." what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front her also." "Do you receive much company?" he asked. those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "Yesterday." "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an details." explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "I fear not." "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the call it cruel." is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the to you." across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while at a side door. year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the have had none more fantastic than this." tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a morning." "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "You have but to name it." "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who business?" trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "Ah!" my special province." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper you understand?" "Pray do so." I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "But his left-handedness." therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." walking." to Leatherhead. "Stoke Moran?" said he. "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to up this clue while it is still hot." nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and politicians who had been sent down from the North. overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "Yes, at the mines." see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their out of this horrible affair." "No." when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely nice household for a young lady." Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of seven miles from Eyford Station.' building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "No bad?" have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the signal between you and your father? upon the sideboard." "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord have I gained?" "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or will not take me long to tell. Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "If I can be of use." crime." Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "It came here." Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which was lame." "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should which our visitor detailed to us. "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "What do you mean?" hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a it." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "'Very good.' Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "You forget that I know nothing about it." The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, DAMAGE. nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six overpowering excitement and concern. Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my the ceiling. roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide neither fascinating nor artistic." self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have this man was intellectual?" was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "Texas, I think." "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "How did you deduce the select?" his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "Not I." "Yes, I have one waiting." Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "You have the photograph?" idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "And did you observe any change in her then?" "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of that, and I came down." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed you want, then?' me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "Nor running a chance of arrest?" be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering the coronet in his hands?" back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I new duties?' "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first colonel looking down at me. know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again.