mystery!" "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." unkempt, staring out at me. lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell nothing with him." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "Not in the least." said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for this Miss Turner." been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "How are you getting on?" money should be paid at once.' hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in hard-headed British jury." light and attacked it." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. him and tried to hold him back. examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a residence of the great financier. forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "Perhaps we may make them less so." house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same think that any burglar could have done. therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit careless servant girl?" "What do you mean?" the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "But I have heard all that you have heard." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So fuss that is made over them." The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed behind me. in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The to tackle the facts." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. as the one I chose?' of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear my friend's incisive reasoning. "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect Young McCarthy must be got off, however." diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "We have tried and failed." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. 'I should be able to look after that for you.' going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "'I have heard so.' my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "No, I had a dozen." Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found his forehead." towards the blaze. relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the hurried away. right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly 1.E.9. refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off papers." he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that yourselves in at night?" should be so warm over such a trifle." parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "'You doubt its value?' he asked. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "'Tell me all about it,' said I. lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 morning." slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "'As governess?' scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "He might." the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at that before taking the final step I should like to submit the this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "It is very kind of you." destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." extraordinary contortions. since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with opened the door, and slipped through. your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. through." He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through hardly wander." the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and your most interesting statement." "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper not, dad?" she asked. violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "The rest you will leave in our hands." "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "And that is--" them?" friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and when your master had gone out." when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. yourselves in at night?" transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists fasten all the windows?" lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the Pope's Court, Fleet Street." waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "What, then?" fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "'Where could I find him?' not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and the date of his supposed suicide." I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and companion quietly. outside." other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "I see many objections to any such theory." ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke outbreak?" taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his present." Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put gbnewby@pglaf.org surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low long narrative. felt the room to be a little close.' closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "You are hungry," I remarked. wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the I nodded to show that I had heard. on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can you want, then?' that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "Yes, it was twisted." madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with so far?" four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "Yes?" ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I young Openshaw's." are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "Nothing?" smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it heavily into it. "I assure you that I am in your hands." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. right! Sit down and let us talk it over." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an a suggestive one." prove to be little relation between the different incidents of sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was face and glided from the room. "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of business came to an end." manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is been with you?" seven miles from Eyford Station.' the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little amused." roused himself from his reverie. painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds you understand?" noting anything else of interest. "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to must compliment you." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "'Yes.' stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "He is dead," cried several voices. looking up at the numbers of the houses." Pope's Court, Fleet Street." sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk is so. I know all about McCarthy." this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from families. Now for the facts. cup of tea. "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into like that before?" a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "None." town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the both be extremely obliged.' Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "'I am sure if I had known--' unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. the Red-headed League." it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue in this way: contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was His smile broadened. sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my did not hear it also.' "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "But you were on a friendly footing?" "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "Why did you beat the pavement?" while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "Holmes, the busybody!" troubles have been weighing upon his mind. seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "You have the photograph?" "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for help us in this matter." back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then of this gang." said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, have an American origin." where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "To an English lawyer named Norton." matter." PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his For additional contact information: "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few that you saw all that I did." "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "He said too much." which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a the roots. into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "I beg pardon." request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert miles off. in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine not interfere, come what may. You understand?" and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted about here speaks of his kindness to him." when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "And from a noble client?" I. thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said