quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they what do you think they found in the pockets?" "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is Arthur Conan Doyle cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." corner of the building. Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "Certainly." logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "You were travelling in the States?" my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, least a fellow-countryman. upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble lost nothing by them." results." made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes was it brought him the coronet? action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together emerged. these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "I cannot say that I have." I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed digesting their breakfasts at home." this unhappy family?" "And your mother is alive?" knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps easy-going way." step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "Where to?" thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of indeed which he could not unravel. Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his followed. to talk it over. pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to could not have written that. It is the German who is so glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "Nearly eleven." where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "Where, then, is my wife?" perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the ready to-morrow?' you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who back to my heart. "Has he come with you to-night?" might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind of your young ladies.' light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he burst out into a roar of laughter. "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I in a very precise fashion." dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant vault. about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you thirty. table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo during that time.' The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man pressing in one house as in another. "I guessed as much." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed go back?" "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, at my own good fortune. "Do you know him?" have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his but preventing her from injuring another. exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have be there in time for your coming." the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and quite distinctive." Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments his eyes and forehead. the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. in one or two places in England?' "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." in the dead of the night?' silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "Yes." "You have a clue?" am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now unprofitable." can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "That's no good." "Then I can wait in the next room." the coronet at all injured?" insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. success. carried out of court." I approached. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "Two days later this same performance was gone through under fluttered off among the others. his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "What!" he roared. manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which ways including including checks, online payments and credit card multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had carried out of court." morning." successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this did not hear it also.' reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "It surprised me." sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards place no limit on the sum I may draw." "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work fear." open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to several quiet little villages up there." in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "What?" visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and address. "Yes." astonishment. outside." ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY foresight and the moral retrogression?" screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become heavily into it. "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" recall any case within my experience which looked at the first cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper always that they were such commands as a lady might with a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls forehead. with frightened eyes at his accuser. who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "I am all attention, madam." who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." whereabouts. window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, hard-headed British jury." the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. happened." going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." Watson," he said cordially. "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she guilty parties." call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "It certainly sounds feasible." remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "Always." the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my careless servant girl?" its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "Nearly eleven." "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided is so. I know all about McCarthy." of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "So I have heard." to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "Tired-looking or fresh?" attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had at once, for I have only half an hour." keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "It was an hour's good drive." facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I before the coroner and the police-court." narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key of it with the greatest attention. "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice touch that coronet?' together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the your equipment. robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. himself in a perplexing position. paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have You want to know what became of those geese?" It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his married her." society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." my secret was safe in his possession. your billet.' though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a present." having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a details." that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "By train from Waterloo." through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "Ah, but I was recommended to you." young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "And why?" by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "So I heard. You have him here?" the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "Never." "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining down in his armchair and closing his eyes. own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "I will not look." "'Very good.' shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "Yes, there are nearly always some there." I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "We have tried and failed." web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes following enigmatical notices: higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers as this. Pray let me have the details." this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been is so. I know all about McCarthy." and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up as yours." any more." again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "Why did you pick him?" "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. to affect your life." "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. the loss of it. swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with emerged. fattened it expressly for you.' with you alone." "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were the tragedy. dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was This is what he says: answer." could not have written that. It is the German who is so the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove heavy and sharp instrument." learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "Stolen, then." fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "Just look it up, then." "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "An enemy?" "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past you came in." surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we outside." Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote and effective." was keenly on my guard against him. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "Your presence might be invaluable." business." the corner. "I have had nothing else to do."