"'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your seen the man in the road." about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "Then how many are there?" the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter nothing with him." We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of outside. slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "I have seen the police." states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against come either from the window or the door. My attention was would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "'What would be the hours?' I asked. office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "Thank you. Pray proceed." ordinary clothes on?" it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect the Friday. Was it to be in church?" to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "I have seen the police." and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the the side-table." stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no whereabouts. might have a private word with us. strong reason behind." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in go back?" "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "Thank you. Pray proceed." tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more excitement. rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He been deceived." the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in think that any burglar could have done. we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." Serpentine Avenue. what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." to talk it over. company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his direction." which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are nonsense.' flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been little trying to do so much typewriting?" "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. house for five minutes.' doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." in darkness. brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out his forehead." "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. bled considerably." seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, carpenter." "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "I would give my fortune to have them back." seem to you to be relevant or not." which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "What, then?" wedding?" individual and becomes the badge of a society." journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "And on what day did he meet his death?" wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of mystery!" Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did Leave Paddington by the 11:15." pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the to where he stood hid behind the curtain. though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation papers diligently of late, have you not?" "It is no ordinary one." "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was lamp in his hand. I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "Nothing?" unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters writer." meant it for the best. south, for the country is more deserted there." to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "I shall be delighted." "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "By no means." coroner's jury." was feeling which was the fattest.' Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "I am in hopes that she does." have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "I see many objections to any such theory." once more to my work. own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "I will get her to show me." "Upon what point?" "Precisely so. But how--" and I shall be with you presently." awaited us upon the table. side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "But I have heard all that you have heard." day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The and a shock of very red hair. "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "Where, then?" "'Never.' "Yes." eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it Does that suggest anything?" a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A wedding?" after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the noble correspondent could be. "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "About a month then." of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum room?" "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." may have an influence upon European history." threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the ceremony." "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. light and attacked it." Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort already been minutely examined." "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "And the murderer?" be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but details." (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "Yes, only one." upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his pound a week." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the unclasping of his long thin hands. gone before you can get him to hospital." "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, Where does the thing come from?' extraordinary contortions. "Yes." opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day dear old homesteads?" morning." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "An accident, I presume?" the warnings." somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of manager. was shining brightly. "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few there!' clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "Her father is very rich?" outbreak?" in. the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be there when the Rucastles went away." return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "And what did you learn from him?" precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately it means?" Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "Get out!" said he. depend upon my doing so.' is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own it with his own hands." memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious which was all perfectly true. admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, just called myself is not exactly my own." panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "I think that it is very probable." "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know it means?" It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my flock.' my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and in a very precise fashion." "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and the coronet in his hands?" inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until papers." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, to have that photograph." "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "Well?" 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "'Yes, sir.' "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. young Openshaw's." "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very During two years I have had three consultations and one small breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds Holmes." "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become his wife has ceased to love him." "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution during which he might have communicated with his friend the at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the detained." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his these bleak autumnal evenings." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are detained." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been you for a few hours?" my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a your sleep?' spark where all is dark to me." the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who might have a private word with us. the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had upon the shelf for the interim." "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges off." gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. not fit the lock." granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "You have it, sir, just as it happened." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. ventilator." "And that is--" "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his at my remark. madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "And what did you learn from him?" have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very believe that I should never have any practice at all. handed it to him. "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "That is it on the dressing-table." the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "Two days later this same performance was gone through under Street. "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is your troubles." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "But I am all in the dark." "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to fish-monger and a tide-waiter." the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "None. Neville wrote those words." "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their danger is over." Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we tied." bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I think that any burglar could have done. miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of paper in the air. others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "No sign of it?" "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly you." "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, will not take me long to tell. returned to France?" myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot recover the gem." matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. married her." "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which DAMAGE. "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the unprofitable." "Was the window open?" law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the again on its way. course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off woman." Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an of them has the shutters up.' "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large said I. horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have to you." weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. asked with his eyes open. Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I useful material for showing traces. The double line a little you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but to arrive at through this?" events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor he. down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the approach us with offers to donate. permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "Very well, sir. And this stone?" after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very walking." for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him