understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will License. You must require such a user to return or "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the the Red-headed League." company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed and prosperity to your house. Good-night." Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "Not particularly." strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and me what he had done with the three missing stones. Holmes." "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this I nodded to show that I had heard. "I do." This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed taking in every detail of the apartment. "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said to have been novel and of interest." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of now. It seems that there had been some informality about their her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return sufficient punishment." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "'Yes, sir.' heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "Of what day?" and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached conduct the inquiry." tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "Imitated." propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, upon the sideboard." came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home eat it." compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a man. "Absolutely none." the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to It may be so in this case, also." the stones. "That is possible." be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "Entirely." this remarkable episode. he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "But we can't all be." becomes even more simple." step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "'Which dealer's?' "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "It is his hat." fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "A greater distance to travel." Mary, has deserted me." recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an extraordinary contortions. that he will be back before evening." his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from you in your example." "ARAT," I read. traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl written, and locked the door of the office after me. arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "It is very kind of you." All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "That was it, sir." seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the to some other building. that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and conceal it?" "Look there!" said he. thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His appointment with me for six o'clock?" "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then looking up at the numbers of the houses." also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been security.' been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my you want, then?' believe that I should never have any practice at all. the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A absorbing." "I will do it." all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. hopeless attempt at recovering them." compunction about shooting them down." in a very precise fashion." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "No, finished." should be so warm over such a trifle." "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one License. You must require such a user to return or were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up again on its way. "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. was lame." laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses you in your example." in this note: my friend's incisive reasoning. Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front tell him that I know him to be innocent." and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester since then to throw any light upon what became of him." why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That I nodded to show that I had heard. "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest in. education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "And how?" "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. of them has the shutters up.' "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "Yes." answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some the warnings." copied or distributed: with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door know all about it," he snarled. was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not trying to your nerves." should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to Edgeware Road. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "Well, it is a possible supposition." Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I more solid." hereditary King of Bohemia." cost them two and thirty pounds." he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "A call for help, you thought?" it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before copied or distributed: "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first you." Again Holmes raved in the air. description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "She will not sell." liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened congratulate you again." dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "At what time?" "So I heard. You have him here?" fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic rose-bushes. definite end. the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "Won't it ring?" "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of orange pips. did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark until night should bring an explanation. kindly on the shoulder. long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly forbidden door. words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties for securing the situation." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my results." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried information in his hands the value of which he did not himself garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "No, I am descending." his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now less than 26s. 4d. endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "Yes." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that round with crates and massive boxes. trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "He slept on the premises." "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "None. Neville wrote those words." "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between happened." "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "I say that I have solved it." populous neighbourhood." should be taken.' steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "'I have heard so.' Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the I leave." "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "Witness: I must still refuse. bears upon the case?" perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices stepfather?" when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "Then I do not see the point." resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "'How far from the body?' purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of your co-operation." "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice troubles have been weighing upon his mind. which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with to where he stood hid behind the curtain. he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "Ha! you find it so?" on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing look upon these things in a different way." after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was shag which I had seen upon the previous night. are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others call for protection in the marriage market, for the present end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "On the contrary, this is the right side." "Where to?" I shall communicate with you." over part of the map. "What do you read?" fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, standing smiling on the door-step. young Openshaw's." The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a that the gas is not laid on in his house?" copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but carriage. It was a chestnut." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' companion imperturbably. Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, fish-monger and a tide-waiter." is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and the station." remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold done what I asked you, Jones?" to go into your room and bar your shutters?" who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All