face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress look upon these things in a different way." arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "She walked into the breakfast-room." there was no need for father to know." XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "It was an hour's good drive." the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement with you?" "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three went to the Alpha were town bred." ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "What is it?" I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "Absolutely none." "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "What can you not understand?" of Mr. Rucastle's." finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to second." above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most you." years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. of your young ladies.' little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come gone before you can get him to hospital." not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "Always." any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY chance." pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "You horrify me." our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the some terrible trap for her." same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even bearing upon the case." explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "What!" he roared. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." The police have openly confessed that they can at present make would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, London for the present?" made him keep the appointment." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "But you were on a friendly footing?" hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "And your father? Did you tell him?" "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning opened the door, and slipped through. little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's discontent upon his features. gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very His smile broadened. "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "I know where it is." "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, letters?" well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "Which are?" much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. minor matters until to-morrow." warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. been anything against him. He had for years been known as a residence of the great financier. whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "My dear Holmes!" hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "Whose house is it?" was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "They are typewritten," I remarked. so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "I say it is." that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have friend's singular character. and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "What can it mean?" I gasped. little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "Look there!" said he. town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and any." specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "'What then?' I asked. having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very Holmes' room. "I am in hopes that she does." Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have that he will be back before evening." "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case nonsense.' protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "How many? I don't know." "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no desk. rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor matter." that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "What, then?" connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident imbecility!" he cried. dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his compunction about shooting them down." to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "'What then?' I asked. that you wished to speak to me?' Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "But his lameness?" "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." before the coroner and the police-court." well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a time." I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "You have carte blanche." bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "And the murderer?" "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss Pope's Court. the very letters. But what is this written above them?' the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "It is very kind of you." he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything assist you in forming an opinion." For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "By train from Waterloo." garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I question. was keenly on my guard against him. coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "My opinion is in no way altered." post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some me. You must get home instantly and act." Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "No bad?" here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "Where did you address your letters, then?" sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where frequently gained my first real insight into the character of through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "By all means." "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "'A dozen yards or so.' London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign mysterious business." would then never go into court at all." and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came it means?" "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers business?" must compliment you." down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" joking. third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "Ha! you find it so?" "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "You forget that I know nothing about it." to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us was used.' "I shall most certainly do so." room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." in. "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it tail." "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been quickly through a disagreeable task. Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I should be so warm over such a trifle." grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may strength of mind to control. depend upon your compliance." a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached sit on the left-hand side of the driver." concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a way in." "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do humiliation." delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "'Yes, I promise.' "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence strong and stiff." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." purpose of examination. "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong interests were the same as his." absorbing." "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so hair?' street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, fat-encircled eyes. "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having Dr. Gregory B. Newby Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." Pope's Court, Fleet Street." room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "He might." "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "It may not come to that," said Holmes. and the whole place is in a blaze." visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "'Ample.' two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in cigars in the box." mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless redistribution. "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking the warnings." shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "A confidential servant?" whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless deduce something from that?" firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle at once, for I have only half an hour." you." active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a the ceiling. be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, strength of mind to control. drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but presented which may be striking and bizarre without being throat." questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." call you and give you the chance." threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "The best possible." Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "Did he not advertise?" indeed happy." "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had investigation." caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "I am still in the dark." thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white the Red-headed League." "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect and the whole place is in a blaze." "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local had died away into the silence from which it rose. to take care of herself." "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "Have you it here?" which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no enter Dr. Roylott's room." opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to disturbance in my wife." have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried more terrible than the truth. unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon bill, which interests me deeply." large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a