trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope and prosperity to your house. Good-night." It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped despaired of." down from London to inquire more deeply into it." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which cigars in the box." slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "By all means." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn desk. studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "It surprised me." brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "Of what day?" "A confidential servant?" Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary new acquaintance to Baker Street. breakfast?" "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "No, distinctly professional." reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "Then the page we have seen--" "Why did you pick him?" he died? deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her floor. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has congenial hunt. "Did your wife hear all this?" direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other client, rising. "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began kindly on the shoulder. than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then entirely devoid of interest." for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "Your presence might be invaluable." crime. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford and the colonel ushered me in. "Perfectly so." my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "In what way?" asked Holmes. a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached your billet.' outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "Certainly." therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "What, then?" "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "Always." another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's works. other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out works. See paragraph 1.E below. Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met Serpentine Avenue. undoubtedly my uncle's." Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our golden eyeglasses. have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step the salesman. struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be had formerly been in part my own. locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal even of instruction." often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone some place of shelter and let the county police know what has cigar and let me expound." has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "Yes, all." breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "And that is--" I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in Eyford." the roots. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the politicians who had been sent down from the North. police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door remarked. there in twenty minutes." "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of will he say when he returns?" was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what depend upon my doing so.' "It is very kind of you." present strange and interesting features that it is no easy my secret was safe in his possession. distance from the station, and there we found the young lady events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to the very morning of the wedding." those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the long narrative. He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "But of what society?" Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "At half-wages, in fact." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here is four-and-twenty." at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "Frequently." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met carriage. It was a chestnut." "But how could you guess what the motive was?" then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her was already answered. be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "The King of Scandinavia." with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been it." society." occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "I do." reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "What!" he roared. should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both not come at once?" a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from kindly on the shoulder. "Witness: Nothing definite. to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "Never." woman." effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "Do you know him?" definite end. page at http://pglaf.org wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out answer." I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began business at Coburg Square is serious." "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "Not particularly." two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good woman who has had her own way to make in the world. came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" his face which made him a very different person to the round, "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "Yes, there are nearly always some there." the night.' and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his second window is the one that I jumped from." Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with Chief Executive and Director This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall details should find their way into the papers. Inspector upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back McCarthy." customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "Yes." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until there in twenty minutes." in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "Who was the criminal, then?" hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that my special province." self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "ARAT," I read. thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We from you?" to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not It was close upon four before the door opened, and a husband's writing, madam." 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' been shamefully used." "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "Witness: I must still refuse. The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in me. You must get home instantly and act." reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "And is that all?" "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "I have seen the police." caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "Not yet." carried out of court." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each through." repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon really the only notable feature about the thing." stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" look upon these things in a different way." crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk unprofitable." his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling that I may have something better before very many minutes are "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "When did she vanish, then?" began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from burst into a hearty fit of laughter. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "Thank you. And your address?" though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had your only hope of safety." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "'What are you doing there?' he asked. But Holmes shook his head gravely. flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter way: that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong Countess of Morcar's?" Where does the thing come from?' and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up against a man in the prime of life?" at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "It is his hat." cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than him. "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must evidence," I remarked. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "What! Had he lost his wife?" along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 details should find their way into the papers. Inspector face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and was used.' salesman. moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "What can it mean?" I gasped. As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, you found me to-night--and running through the front room she upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is voice. hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "I was sure that I might rely on you." wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small The summons was a brief and urgent one. "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "The landlord of the Alpha." "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If new acquaintance to Baker Street. is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to late." common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "How on earth--" every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I been anything against him. He had for years been known as a have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one that he will be back before evening." trying to your nerves." came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress there were one or two details which were new to me. But the As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "I have hopes." bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will disappearance of the bride.'" inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that and prosperity to your house. Good-night." of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "'Ten to two.' when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded