"'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to chance at all." have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more brain must have something in it." 1.F. "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left closely." good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. your room." stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself village inn over there?" back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new of receipt of the work. hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "Yes, sir." "Then the page we have seen--" "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and golden eyeglasses. reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study telegram would bring me down to your help." to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "A confidential servant?" in one or two places in England?' him." one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. the matter?" found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which status with the IRS. o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the I nodded to show that I had heard. "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and it with his own hands." has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "Pray let us have it, for all that." and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "You have but to name it." dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery voice. voice. "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know rooms." troubles have been weighing upon his mind. in the dead of the night?' "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "A confidential servant?" him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest could gather together that I was able to avert another public "And your mother is alive?" photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel Sholtos." observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my room had already been engaged for us. daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "Were they all fastened this morning?" cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is than was visible to me." work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any my secret was safe in his possession. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. indiscretion." no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "None. Neville wrote those words." clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a golden eyeglasses. glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his never came back." "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over this Miss Turner." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I all-comprehensive glances. wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "That is it on the dressing-table." "She told me to ask you." "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it DISSOLVED. "I say that I have solved it." "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I the driver. "Then he might have called to you?" questioning and rather startled gaze. done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to me. You must get home instantly and act." narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open despair." last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." our word." discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "I fear not." What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said you." At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "'Certainly not.' at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or I took the paper from him and read as follows: lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "Do you go out much in society?" "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "Well, it is a possible supposition." "To an end?" There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. purpose of examination. been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very at my remark. despaired of." the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt a very grave face. "By no means." "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "That also I could fathom." of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "Awake, Watson?" he asked. a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' village inn over there?" once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not money should be paid at once.' "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards of receipt of the work. filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "'Most admirably.' "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now the driver. "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy and wait." age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is Sutherland. "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, fact, we may call it conclusive." either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "Yes." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you that "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at heavily into it. something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, and have this put in the evening papers." had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "'And what are they worth?' I asked. deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "By no means." to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "I would give my fortune to have them back." The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "My stepfather's business papers." "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business carpenter." acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "Well, it is a possible supposition." clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of or other trace. But how on earth--" Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove very morning of my second wedding." desk. pressing in one house as in another. memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered done what I asked you, Jones?" into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "'Is purely nominal.' that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in girl said." in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "Stoke Moran?" said he. never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, six. Come in!" headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." arrangements." these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "Holmes, the busybody!" only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy we went to search for him, face downward in a little "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "How are you getting on?" help us in this matter." upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out girl said." had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "Pray do so." "But you were on a friendly footing?" "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "He said that you could solve anything." which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." and your relations to her." was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. is worth.' because she had spent so short a time in this country that she observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "I guessed as much." to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "Absolutely none." "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, than was visible to me." her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." do.' make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a in his power. exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "Only as much as we can deduce." still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk 1.E.9. "I fear not." o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." sooner or later she must fall a victim. "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two affair. "How did he come?" deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector writing, and yet I know it well." Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. keep the flames under. vanished into the darkness. crime. I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man conversation I have gathered that they have been married about pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle all?" "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "I am following you closely," I answered. but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, true." by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." details should find their way into the papers. Inspector been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "He is still with you, I presume?" could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence business." road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "'Stolen!' he cried. "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems as he folded up the epistle. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of thirty. "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back and wait." must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that you, my dear young lady?' "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the any." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE morning." an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "I am following you closely," I answered. fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may foot. reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours second." 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but these bleak autumnal evenings." fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some interests were the same as his." ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind with you alone." more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "Well, some hundreds of times." "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "But how?" sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "'Never,' said I. "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, to that open window." "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would here." it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman.