"I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of coroner's jury." "I cannot tell." blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "Certainly." I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "Yes, sir." Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment II. to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate three fields round his house, and there he would take his had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded there has been an enclosure here!" letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since putting in the horse. tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent with frightened eyes at his accuser. The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "'Tell me all about it,' said I. takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "What then?" putting in the horse. I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second see a sister of mine apply for." while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "I am about to be married." were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "How did that help you?" of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, answer." "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it hardly wander." His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "Your sister is dead, then?" with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "You saw the ventilator, too?" the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching than was visible to me." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "You heard nothing yourself last night?" it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "'I shall certainly be there.' heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood goes." "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. guilty parties." "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his towards the blaze. Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "It is a murder, then?" "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "'Very good.' among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our it." "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." brought there to personate someone, and the real person is Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "That is it on the dressing-table." Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable the nursery. Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" 1.F. was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible investigation." row." Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. to tackle the facts." paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "'Yes, sir.' Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that the child." Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "Witness: It was. counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "Ha! you find it so?" laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "Not in a good cause." Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is be.' rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest have not had my rubber." c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his and have this put in the evening papers." his face. "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an speckled band?" see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." behind me. minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning electronic works never will be, entirely cleared up. very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "Very. But will he see it?" "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your examination of the premises, but without finding anything which must compliment you." quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "May I see it?" noise which awoke you from your sleep?" glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had I held the little printed slip to the light. uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think could not account in any way for the presence of the missing began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "Oh, the cause is excellent!" him, that man would not have given me such complete information is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we question," said Holmes, smiling. introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." What do you deduce from it?" foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face bill, which interests me deeply." to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest into her hand at the door and which lured her within their a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "One of the highest in England." "Your French gold?" immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "Did you observe the colour?" money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I point in the dark hollow of his hand. "Yes, from Horsham." we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was must be when I saw the door open.' this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "But to whom?" business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he License. You must require such a user to return or whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "'I shall certainly be there.' pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. on re-entering her father's house?" light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such three fields round his house, and there he would take his of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." said he. what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as words came to my lips. enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, me upon any point which I do not make clear." into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of he. there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become again, where I was soon asleep. began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were learned something! Where are the gems?" enough to aid us in our search." last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "It is possible." The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "Then, as to money?" bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this the ceiling. Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "How do you know, then?" beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "How on earth--" He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I our word." "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were the side-table." knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "Witness: I must still refuse. his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: highroad, where all traces were lost. young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" purpose equally well?" "Well, some hundreds of times." "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an you." suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the go from here to the Strand." father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me to where he stood hid behind the curtain. it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. knowledge of the world." upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "Yes, certainly." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." gone. I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, three of the beryls in it, was missing. the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you compunction about shooting them down." bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "Did you observe the colour?" pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all retorted upon me, and I on you." "Yes, all." dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady corner of the building. Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears developed." "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "Yes, from Horsham." every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall of your young ladies.' "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your intimate personal affairs in this public manner." not as remarkable as your advertisement." mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we ago." the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which disappearance of the bride.'" and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in the window, rose as we entered. There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an "Yes, from Horsham." "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "'Then let me do so?' "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, envelope. carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited them?" upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about call you and give you the chance." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk the very morning of the wedding." light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no did not hear it also.' be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the DISSOLVED. and the church but not where the lady lived." About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "That is possible." Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his foot. "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you amused." "'Entirely.' know all about it," he snarled. walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "Here?" locked. article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "Was your sister dressed?" accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "Was your sister dressed?" paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" villagers almost as much as their master. harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are murdered man." said he. looking up at the numbers of the houses." arms and began to sob in a high treble key. been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not him." hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "Yes, sir." the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no of fine shops and stately business premises that they really the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a charge against him will break down." fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon to surprise her." and wait." "And how have you succeeded?" between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped of receipt of the work. "'Certainly,' I answered. heavily into it. was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: standing smiling on the door-step. you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "And you thought he was pulled back?" down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't voice. go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his for its centre. the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "That is unusual in a young girl." side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon served to weaken the effect. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather asked. comes from the middle window." not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his not fit the lock." "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over tassel actually lying upon the pillow. Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen?