"At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "How about poison?" part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "On Monday." blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the detective. "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of the side-table." little adventures." William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to writing, and yet I know it well." "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang his face. I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. conversation I have gathered that they have been married about Count Von Kramm." the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, the very morning of the wedding." "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a it means?" a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been rose-bushes. "Yes." remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but have I gained?" "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of later, upon the night of May 2nd." "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there skylight. client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain the very morning of the wedding." "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a definite end. "Get out!" said he. and put his glass in his pocket. when you have done it." bore every mark of being an average commonplace British spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about your bag." its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "And the murderer?" reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "I should like to see him very much." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came someone who had been in Australia." drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was with you alone." dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he so far?" Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had know all about it," he snarled. when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man status with the IRS. sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be some place of shelter and let the county police know what has to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little the room while you explain this matter?" have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought troubles have been weighing upon his mind. the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "It is a murder, then?" ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a could go. "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" extraordinary contortions. in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "It is to him that this trophy belongs." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "Yesterday." search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "I guessed as much." much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and annoyance, but no jest. down. a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. troubles have been weighing upon his mind. fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "The Coroner: What do you mean? "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "The Coroner: What do you mean? And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were compunction about shooting them down." half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in a little more before I quite committed myself. "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & in his hands." chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you The events in question occurred in the early days of my "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, the inquest, and which are worth considering." "To an end?" train from Paddington which would bring you there at about 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, started for the Temple to see my husband. gives a meaning to it." bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with the coroner come to?" "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." noble correspondent could be. "It is very clear." hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and himself in a perplexing position. "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "But what is it you wish?" more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide his cane at the bell-pull. and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert night.' said he. "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "And how did you find out?" figure." up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and swore that no one else had been in the front room during the heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower than to us. conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining photograph?" it." beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "The rest you will leave in our hands." enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. seem to you to be relevant or not." hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven Serpentine Avenue. that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "The Coroner: What do you mean? next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" one's self under obligations.' Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "And who is her maid?" "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "'A dozen yards or so.' glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely is acting for the best. the salesman. and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which and it need not interfere very much with one's other With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to From what you have told me I think that it is possible that saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, as he remarks, very much against the son." bedroom door." at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "'What do you call purely nominal?' be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts the station." "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard against a man in the prime of life?" When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "'Quite sure, dad.' and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. was a lad." are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "We must sit without light. He would see it through the know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. bird I ate is country bred." having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the woven round him. "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus again before evening." business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "What will you say?" clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave in his hands." envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "I am armed." "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their said I. There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the upon a handsome competence. "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "'Ample.' "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned green of the new foliage. indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a client, rising. The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "You were travelling in the States?" the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "'I am sure that I do not know.' back alive. one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I attention." legal crime." strange features which were associated with the two crimes which follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic the child." the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the house for five minutes.' "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. points to suicide?" our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: it." hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is never will be, entirely cleared up. III. his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "Were they all fastened this morning?" are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be night.' said he. are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "What! You do not mean bodies?" "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you do." unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his business?" "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, read over the extraordinary announcement. telegram would bring me down to your help." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the any more." "You have the photograph?" "I am still in the dark." once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "Then I can wait in the next room." "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the fire. You quite follow me?" "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who could not have written that. It is the German who is so rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her that you saw all that I did." nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "It is very kind of you." hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with invisible to me," I remarked. of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of