"And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "Yes, at the mines." advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever followed. as he remarks, very much against the son." "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, the date of his supposed suicide." "Yes." "Perhaps I have." "'What do you call purely nominal?' result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "Which are?" on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear south, for the country is more deserted there." all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' me. You must get home instantly and act." advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper purpose equally well?" "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I purpose equally well?" twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another signal between you and your father? liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever sake, don't!" I held the little printed slip to the light. A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "In which, sir?" deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong beg that you will break it off." the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." your own bird, so if you wish--" "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other situation." "Were they all fastened this morning?" have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and 'please.'" tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when God! What an exposure! What can I do?" observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There indeed happy." I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "You will not go there first?" astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him searched, without anything being found which could incriminate power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "Why serious?" residence of the great financier. near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has into the room. the warnings." "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a at a side door. "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "No, thank goodness, she did not." the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. my little problems." most interesting one." hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." gives a meaning to it." looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought depend upon your compliance." like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is danger is over." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "Only as much as we can deduce." But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "We have tried and failed." theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he happened." creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. The note was undated, and without either signature or address. before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the I held the little printed slip to the light. him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; wife's character?" introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "And how did you verify them?" I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the thirty. "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is murdered man." came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every little trying to do so much typewriting?" difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no what do you think they found in the pockets?" "But I have heard all that you have heard." table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "What I expected to see." these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "I would pay ten." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email "I would pay ten." result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I depend upon my doing so.' Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money as the one I chose?' 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "Ah, but I was recommended to you." be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' intrusion of other matters." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now was lame." has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a what do you think they found in the pockets?" and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "Witness: I must still refuse. of campaign. the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but forebodings. compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that present." down. money should be paid at once.' "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was God! What an exposure! What can I do?" think you a quite exceptional woman." he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. could go. has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster him nearly every evening." "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all as he folded up the epistle. whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way empty. faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had any." foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn see a sister of mine apply for." "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the have had none more fantastic than this." saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the arms and began to sob in a high treble key. signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the the little opening for the ventilator is." lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "Where did you address your letters, then?" downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and undoubtedly my uncle's." find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "And how?" charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is forbidden door. Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "Your French gold?" admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect peculiar to him. reach." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' if only as a check to my own memory." "I was mad--insane." in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that do.' have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to words came to my lips. "Why did you beat the pavement?" thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "I don't believe it." "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of said he. stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "'Never.' It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a success. fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I For additional contact information: held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "It is half-past ten now." rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so upon an income of about 60 pounds." "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "Was there a secret marriage?" "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "The gentleman I describe." Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King furiously. a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on you." and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this any little problem which you may submit to me." dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him only touch the interest." "Yes." the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he Holmes' thin, eager face. "And how did you find out?" late!' an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could and have this put in the evening papers." They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open yards of it?' than to us. poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "Awake, Watson?" he asked. right! Sit down and let us talk it over." very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to eavesdroppers?' much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss the Assizes." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring guilty parties." "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me the coronet in his hands?" window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and bedroom door." was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, lamp. moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste papers diligently of late, have you not?" peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "My stepfather's business papers." of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "Thank you. Pray proceed." "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an extraordinary contortions. disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. roused himself from his reverie. crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is society." into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then was a lad." speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "You are certainly joking, Holmes." feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to was it brought him the coronet? without success. At last the little money which I had saved began be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I death." predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his in my life." just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" future lives." found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, horse could go." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "'Never,' said I. with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "I see many objections to any such theory." sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let looking up at the numbers of the houses." problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "I think that I had better go, Holmes." manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' held up the lantern and gazed about him. dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations there was no need for father to know." instincts rose up against that laugh. Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. three of the beryls in it, was missing. "But of what society?" reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, was once confined in the cab my mission was practically leaning back in his chair. have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position charge against him will break down." in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a said Mr. Holder. have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all been with you?" St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week he bowed and left the room without another word. "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential their singular warning or token before them when starting upon never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "Where, then?" "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the what is your own theory as to what took place?" the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of and capable of preserving a secret.' this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. go--none." and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more of Fenchurch Street." I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "'Quite sure, dad.' But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a lumber-room." have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my said I. only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "Not in a good cause." "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "Was the window open?" one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had The telegram which we eventually received came late one night seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I sit on the left-hand side of the driver." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "Precisely." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square there has been an enclosure here!" "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss