outbreak?" it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been as he remarks, very much against the son." "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." what I may call a really hard day's work." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem highly," said Holmes. feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "I am following you closely," I answered. 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "'As governess?' office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "'It is locked up,' I answered. a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge be there in time for your coming." ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must room had already been engaged for us. delirious. Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and your billet.' "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your than was visible to me." waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich disappearance of these gems?" that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached bonnet, and went out." one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend persecution?" shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "'How far from the body?' Heh?' "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' which it had come upon my father." "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will dead, shall be safe with us." fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "I cannot imagine." head. So long, then!" almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is became a certainty. For additional contact information: he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this to-morrow." year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass sooner or later she must fall a victim. "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would IS "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the the morning and make my own way in the world.' comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "Have you it here?" seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "You have the photograph?" must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature peculiar to him. the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I already referred to. see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "I will not look." least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the to-night?" I asked. lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that even of instruction." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." companion imperturbably. and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "How did you trace it, then?" Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "Is he quiet?" at home. black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "Yes." "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "Yes." immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my furiously. several quiet little villages up there." the general public were present, then?" "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that there were one or two details which were new to me. But the murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in should be so warm over such a trifle." fishes. "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting following enigmatical notices: in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. fashion which was peculiar to him. screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had fait accompli?" "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "None." but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular approach us with offers to donate. at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." read over the extraordinary announcement. and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had occupations.' and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "I was afraid that you were engaged." photograph?" resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I the tragedy. one of them." "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant my former friend and companion. the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, go back?" our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "Not in a good cause." lamp in his hand. casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "If I can be of use." He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him leave you to your papers for a little." front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded depend upon your compliance." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not perplexity from it to my illustrious client. battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." papers must be those that are destroyed.' treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. do.' "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must my secret was safe in his possession. "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "But we can't all be." sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, clang of the bell. "'As governess?' recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, jewels which you have stolen?' occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! the morning and make my own way in the world.' should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock to his chemical studies. "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "Of Friday, June 19th." end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer when you have done it." office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was straightened it out again. has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "It is a murder, then?" errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "'A dozen yards or so.' With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when matter over." the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which tear off another piece?' established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused habit of advancing money.' dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "Did you observe the colour?" he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly outside. with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. and laid it on the table. "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "It was an hour's good drive." prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "I see no marks." redistribution. "What can it mean?" I gasped. "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "Dirty?" the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting off." have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "I have seen the police." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent these bleak autumnal evenings." "How often?" office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of to some other building. "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "None." "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay carried out of court." upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in could not have written that. It is the German who is so electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "I am all attention, madam." "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "Then I do not see the point." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, himself to hunt down. been." back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "Certainly." crime." 1.F. "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works information in his hands the value of which he did not himself snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "The doctor?" "Witness: I must still refuse. "What will you say?" He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a helping a boy to put up the shutters. vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." question you as to those details which seem to me to be most conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, I nodded again. that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "Yes." his wife has ceased to love him." was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her lost nothing by them." occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. presume?" garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to in the hope of finding them." broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to and a shock of very red hair. flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "Where, then?" clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step drove away. of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, tell me that you intended to go into harness." "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "It is his hat." equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even fire. You quite follow me?" bore every mark of being an average commonplace British or in danger--" power." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. fashion which was peculiar to him. said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "'Yes, sir.' galvanised. bird of prey. "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "Ah, but I was recommended to you." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "Was the window open?" man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." congratulate you again." is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I six. Come in!" "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the highly," said Holmes. never came back." "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. point our research must commence, and we will begin it by I think that I could be of assistance to you." which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick the armchair which I pushed forward for him. the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some strength of mind to control. such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "Stolen." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post gentleman's clothes. "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet so far?" "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "It is solved." license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at looking up at the numbers of the houses." "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a purpose equally well?" he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "No." never will be, entirely cleared up. told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "You forget that I know nothing about it." were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I You can understand that this register and diary may implicate a little more before I quite committed myself.