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death." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she new acquaintance to Baker Street. company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an the one as in the other." He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our little adventures." sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "And how did you verify them?" Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. before, for it was considerably after midnight. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the know that the truth is known." Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself did not hear it also.' "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." see me here to avoid scandal." to arrive at through this?" "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to that I am arrested." the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" Holmes' face clouded over. slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "None." but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper train.' thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. once more to my work. "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our have established a very serious case against the son of the "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon and prosperity to your house. Good-night." which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old detective. when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home The events in question occurred in the early days of my the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss telegram would bring me down to your help." there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the call for it in person on Monday morning.' sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot I took the paper from him and read as follows: inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. papers on the sundial.'" see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave and prosperity to your house. Good-night." desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "That's no good." possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "I have a cab outside." that side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this copied or distributed: even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "Nothing." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what for the market.' "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. or in danger--" paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "We must have a cab." He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than people don't know." creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage whereabouts. that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "To an end?" similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "I am to be neutral?" be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon lamp. present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, bed dies. Does not that strike you?" The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the highroad, where all traces were lost. "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my the best of training." outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "Yes, that is the Crown." upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be could not account in any way for the presence of the missing as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be respectable self." difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation placed his cuttings. ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "Stolen." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "I promise," said Holmes. hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "On your arm?" "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." the Friday. Was it to be in church?" this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "Pray do so." all that?" "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." new duties?' matter over." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, ways including including checks, online payments and credit card fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was footfalls from the street. was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." back to my heart. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "'Why that?' I asks. actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "You saw the ventilator, too?" the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "You are all wrong." the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," cup of tea. though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the again." "Not in a good cause." "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" had this final quarrel? everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a brandy and water within his reach. his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes do." glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "From his hat?" "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been shall not find me ungrateful." common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to breakfast?" Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my appointment with me for six o'clock?" "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in Where does the thing come from?' you in your example." struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "'Entirely.' time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar putting in the horse. trifles." "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for Project Gutenberg-tm works. simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than once more for Briony Lodge. developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "No, distinctly professional." leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "I promise," said Holmes. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out giving me time to thank him. "I came to find a friend." "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? the roots. stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "I have seen the police." matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "My last client of the sort was a king." ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said these bleak autumnal evenings." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "Holmes, the busybody!" King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" even so self-evident a thing as that." carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of chance." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced reach." very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was one or two very singular points about this room. For example, searched, without anything being found which could incriminate Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper attention." is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "But how will you look?" Dr. Gregory B. Newby A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and your only hope of safety." four million human beings all jostling each other within the thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of fluttered off among the others. finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely call it cruel." because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter Holmes rather sternly. of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than answer." "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your straighten it?" room. the night.' thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "'What then?' I asked. form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm as he remarks, very much against the son." have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if could not account in any way for the presence of the missing of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE carpenter." prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "And how?" "Of Friday, June 19th." tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "It is solved." after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which all that?" "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "Stolen, then." without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone I. shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "It is no ordinary one." "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the to-morrow." built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice what is your own theory as to what took place?" presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for results." years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." locked. "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "What of the rat, then?" fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these as the one I chose?' claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you bachelor.' wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east from the brougham. lumber-room." "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and