although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men out of this horrible affair." thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' once more to my work. with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your such attractions and accomplishments?' strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. the armchair which I pushed forward for him. I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with to take care of herself." strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared of them has the shutters up.' "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had has little to do with my story." comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." outside. "Have you her photograph?" again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite nothing with him." "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." Dr. Gregory B. Newby address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you said he. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "Well, some hundreds of times." "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you in one or two places in England?' us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "That is not always so easy." no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, weapon." after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the other means.' the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "Was he the only applicant?" "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in stalked out of the room. affair. this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a security.' point our research must commence, and we will begin it by 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "Dr. Becher's." waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of even so self-evident a thing as that." greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "Nor running a chance of arrest?" would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a think that any burglar could have done. a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "Ample." "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "My private note-paper." shadow pass over his face as I spoke. I held the little printed slip to the light. right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and up this clue while it is still hot." forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "He might." ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "Yes." present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "At what time?" All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "How long did she speak to this Alice?" which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said nights." Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you Does that suggest anything?" Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. at my remark. "'It is locked up,' I answered. my secret was safe in his possession. of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "I see many objections to any such theory." the matter." his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "No, I think that I'll take it." me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I round with crates and massive boxes. temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" as this. Pray let me have the details." seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was washing it down with a long draught of water. wanted for ourselves." "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." to me. "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is October 9, 1890. morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "It is true that I have been generally successful." Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' examination of the premises, but without finding anything which yet." satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at woman who has had her own way to make in the world. where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, thought that she would have been so carried away." to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "They are typewritten," I remarked. mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it have one." "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "I cannot as yet see any connection." "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and have got?" near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "Witness: Nothing definite. remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been possible that we could bring him back to her? her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. the little opening for the ventilator is." the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "A thing like a cleaver," said he. the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing to-night's adventure." shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, hopeless attempt at recovering them." Sholtos." and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as had died away into the silence from which it rose. helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "No. His orders were to stay in the house." something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room would then never go into court at all." abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the that I may have something better before very many minutes are run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "But of what society?" it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call the stable lane now." it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the morning." "'Why that?' I asks. recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "But I am all in the dark." bachelor.' "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some indiscretion." returning from some small jollification and was making his way daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of it. speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor tension within him. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "So I heard. You have him here?" that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds upon an income of about 60 pounds." rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of key turn in the lock." his fortune, and I went back to pa. "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil where Mr. Fordham shows you.' feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you not interfere, come what may. You understand?" cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "I think it very unlikely." no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the tear off another piece?' absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very beg that you will break it off." money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "This photograph!" the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman foresight and the moral retrogression?" fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "I am to be neutral?" It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me place no limit on the sum I may draw." understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "'I have heard so.' visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. over his head with a sweet womanly caress. or other trace. But how on earth--" "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as village inn over there?" object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards during that time.' down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were and glanced through. reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment chance at all." before the coroner and the police-court." "None." "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's went to the Alpha were town bred." soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, back to my heart. "We were both in the photograph." "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending burst into a hearty fit of laughter. saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you when you have done it." home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "And that is--" and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a and laid it on the table. problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "No more words. Get out!" "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is of the one which your family is now devouring." "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every joking. "By all means." that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, arrangements." adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a we went to search for him, face downward in a little brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped deduce something from that?" indiscretion." "In heaven's name, what for?" people don't know." light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. discontent upon his features. should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "No, I had a dozen." was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian you give your casting vote to?" shall use the carriage to-night." he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "Get out!" said he. attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at are, and they are waiting for us." an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have papers diligently of late, have you not?" that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "I have come for advice." purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." the very letters. But what is this written above them?' street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." on re-entering her father's house?" "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across security.' therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a o'clock is it?" are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "Game for a morning drive?" twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did recall any case within my experience which looked at the first but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for your only hope of safety." wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at best detective that ever lived. "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the interests were the same as his." us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and do.' rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed be sorry for having acted so harshly." "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her as he remarks, very much against the son." feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding the matter." was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate in my life." rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.'