conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the door?" "I cannot imagine." appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that yet." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "Oh, the cause is excellent!" Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' signal between you and your father? young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue Pope's Court. clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that one of them." future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "Well, some hundreds of times." warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "You were travelling in the States?" round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things Have you good authority for what you say?" mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "And what did you see?" instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "Holmes, the busybody!" was it brought him the coronet? A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "The Coroner: What do you mean? "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." to affect your life." evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an horse could go." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts unclasping of his long thin hands. "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "But she could not love him." labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, desk. hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a arrested. You then--" slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average point in the dark hollow of his hand. scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "It may not come to that," said Holmes. and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of it with his own hands." about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "An enemy?" Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was detective. "Yes." Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "That you are never beaten." "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my would then never go into court at all." knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it him, that man would not have given me such complete information gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and to miss it." already been minutely examined." fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the the inquest, and which are worth considering." "You don't mind breaking the law?" I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps good for you to do.' my secret was safe in his possession. "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few already been minutely examined." "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a Where does the thing come from?' My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for Dr. Gregory B. Newby "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "'It is locked up,' I answered. His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "'I am sure if I had known--' "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he once more to my work. particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "Dirty?" reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "You know me, then?" Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl that, and I came down." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but out." near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it this truth that in these little records of our cases which you started for the Temple to see my husband. matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "Who was the criminal, then?" "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a mystery." "And you thought he was pulled back?" chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. to Leatherhead. James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "By no means." so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "And the murderer?" impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman relief. Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "Here?" from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. writers could invent nothing more crude." "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," been able to understand it, in a very few words. all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, bell. Holmes whistled. giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped that, and I came down." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal examine." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. learned something! Where are the gems?" bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and spark where all is dark to me." down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "Pray be precise as to details," said he. and a shock of very red hair. comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." distinguish the words: weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was Have you good authority for what you say?" reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of again." shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his highly," said Holmes. bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I business?" firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. just ask you whether you had heard it.' second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. security.' seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most coat-tails." pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "It certainly sounds feasible." was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do taking in every detail of the apartment. yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there done what I asked you, Jones?" the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the which it had come upon my father." The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that copied or distributed: rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" security.' It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search some mystery and the punishment of some crime." I nodded again. "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who residence of the great financier. The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I to that open window." "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "No." "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the could not have written that. It is the German who is so reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting have had none more fantastic than this." "But you would not advise me to refuse?" research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. threw himself down with his face to the pillow. once more. "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass next day. "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 rose-bushes. leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting people in all walks of life. one of them." desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "Where, then?" "What, then?" round and wave him away like that.' "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings at home. misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed John Swain, of St. Augustine. minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" of your young ladies.' "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing the dangers which encompass me." doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." to Leatherhead. have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? soul! here is her carriage at the door." "'Yes.' met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that said he. compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY lips." feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. started for the Temple to see my husband. you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a you?" expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "Yes, he did." however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, province." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For in him." he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously best detective that ever lived. which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his of it with the greatest attention. accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the you." "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand of Mr. Rucastle's." tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in was a loud and authoritative tap. "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "Absolutely none." inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it your bag." Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and American. Then who could this American be, and why should he until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of throat." "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." experiences." broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send unprecedented a position." "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what letters?" customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning him nearly every evening." a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. next day. know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "No, distinctly professional." "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "The decline of his fortunes, then?" the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" even so self-evident a thing as that." which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless asked. where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the attention." "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had entirely devoid of interest." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. what these perils are?" is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore with you?" depend upon your compliance." need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had yet." I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.'