end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "By no means." work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party wife's character?" the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "Of what day?" himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "And I say east," said my patient. offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little know what is wrong with it.' neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this kindly on the shoulder. "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. politicians who had been sent down from the North. right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. strength in the others." "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly wedding?" it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "My photograph." judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, them?" "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "They are typewritten," I remarked. of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "Yes." somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." begun to whiten, even as mine has." both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "Not in a good cause." north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand congratulate you again." The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. Young McCarthy must be got off, however." Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two directly by questioning you." "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case question," said Holmes, smiling. yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "Where did you address your letters, then?" one which it was hard to resist. thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of possible that we could bring him back to her? the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than is now desirous of getting those letters back." the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "Yes, all." of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his there." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may he. "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, things are very often connected not with the larger but with the will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you words came to my lips. in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham cheerful." unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do new acquaintance to Baker Street. pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get vanished into the darkness. "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have so.' affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "And your father? Did you tell him?" horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life danger is over." say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the business came to an end." follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. know all about it," he snarled. side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in tear off another piece?' weapon." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, there." used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the Pope's Court, Fleet Street." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall it right.' number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "I fear not." from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That before, for it was considerably after midnight. "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present obstinate." shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "Yes." the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average confronted him. Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I your only hope of safety." isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." like that before?" confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. companion imperturbably. lamp in his hand. What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own pierced for earrings?" the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the results." propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some fasten all the windows?" goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave you want, then?' sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, voice, changing her seat as requested. did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "'Certainly,' I answered. scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we one which it was hard to resist. opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "No, my brougham is waiting." conduct the inquiry." nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one tear off another piece?' suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly Countess of Morcar's?" "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon this remarkable episode. of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" experiences." such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than thin legs towards the fire. I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do there were one or two details which were new to me. But the morning." waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "You will not go there first?" enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that to arrive at through this?" them?" Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she have one." down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working second." although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "So it appears." blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of business?" quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would again, where I was soon asleep. the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes tapping his fingers upon the table. "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My believe that I should never have any practice at all. "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "What! Had he lost his wife?" "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing hopeless attempt at recovering them." at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "What is it?" But Holmes shook his head gravely. deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." she slowly sank and died without having recovered her at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "Yes." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray matter." never to learn it at all." fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "The best possible." Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, society." on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the him. it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a sofa. This way, please!" Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in remarked. and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed signal between you and your father? the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. some terrible trap for her." Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "Not him." "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was distinguish the words: can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite the side-table." and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "And how did he make his money?" is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of other means.' "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my this as likely?" a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "It was." however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "I have seen the police." and inquire as to the address." shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "He said that you could solve anything." "My Mary? Impossible!" light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she letters?" clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I tightly behind him. sneer upon his pale face. certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon drawing your inferences." mysterious business." the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "A greater distance to travel." "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "And you thought he was pulled back?" right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I feature." "Then the page we have seen--" "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" me, and I could not think that his explanation of the and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "Then you may be so with me." "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. beyond words. Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm detective. lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with your only hope of safety." was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must is a common subject for conversation. signal between you and your father? high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New of them has the shutters up.' Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was instituted." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face even of instruction." I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "I beg pardon." "What! Had he lost his wife?" "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "None." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "I saw her in conversation with her maid." in the dead of the night?' "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "Yes, he did." "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse,