to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." him, that man would not have given me such complete information her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but correct than the official force." in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself the night.' the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average always that they were such commands as a lady might with acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "Was the window open?" Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I During two years I have had three consultations and one small "What I expected to see." "And did you observe any change in her then?" you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "Yes." seen the man in the road." both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I and wait." a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "You have it, sir, just as it happened." married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear pressing in one house as in another. We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible lids now and glanced across at his visitor. nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "But what harm can there be in that?" have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case know what is wrong with it.' pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was the roots. details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out will not take me long to tell. everything which you would wish to know." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "What then?" digesting their breakfasts at home." corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each like gravel from a pit.' of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to character. he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "Of Friday, June 19th." 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "It missed him, then?" "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "Get out!" said he. but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "And it is--" places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying will he say when he returns?" gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "You are hungry," I remarked. jewels which you have stolen?' them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital before the coroner and the police-court." "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. have had none more fantastic than this." that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "And why in hopes?" the morning and make my own way in the world.' "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable have an American origin." assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' me. time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming not within a twentieth part of the market price." "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "I am all attention, madam." corner of the building. I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "Your sister is dead, then?" begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was call for it in person on Monday morning.' the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "Always." "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There and put his glass in his pocket. battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the happened." in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of galvanised. as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was death." newspaper selections." "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "'Ten to two.' coroner's jury." he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so you." "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "When did she vanish, then?" "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his desk. disappearance of these gems?" hurried away. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "Was the window open?" were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all must be when I saw the door open.' ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY little adventures." definite end. Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had examine." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in must compliment you." dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm some city in a dream. say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of became a certainty. receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "Dirty?" own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard sooner or later she must fall a victim. mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "No, my brougham is waiting." tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the Again Holmes raved in the air. it." relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the them present such singular features as the strange train of frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent name is different." Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out sooner or later she must fall a victim. bedroom door." "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." fire. You quite follow me?" they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." that there was nothing in it, after all." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, congenial hunt. reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never giving me time to thank him. persecution?" left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "To the police?" logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly meanly of me." a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my weighed down with some great anxiety. remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My emerged. faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "Breckinridge is his name." "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "I answered that I had not. open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "This concluded the examination of the witness." to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return redistribution. case before our client came into the room." "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed and the whole place is in a blaze." so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should remarked. "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "But you were on a friendly footing?" "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "'I am sure if I had known--' "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and to some other building. such person." settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "This photograph!" points to suicide?" however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "I should wish to." matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "No legal papers or certificates?" This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "None. Neville wrote those words." 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "Yes." photograph?" years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "'Never.' am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "I don't believe it." all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "I say that I have solved it." purpose of examination. Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of were wasted." "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "'And what salary do you ask?' and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. once more for Briony Lodge. at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. look dissatisfied." must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "You forget that I know nothing about it." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "The murder was done with it." I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found whether it answered to the description of any of their long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The easy-going way." heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "One of his hands." deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as strength." "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by strange features which were associated with the two crimes which shadow pass over his face as I spoke. what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." wedding?" as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of Watson," he said cordially. there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble visitors." Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said thought that she would have been so carried away." on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates begun to whiten, even as mine has." "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he the driver. "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "One horse?" interjected Holmes. There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire empty. "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the grasp, he hurried from the room. therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from wedding?" a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." help us in this matter." it with his own hands." beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside call for it in person on Monday morning.' feature." "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I bachelor.' What do you deduce from it?" name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon of this gang." France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "Of Friday, June 19th." the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. that "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "Absolutely?" "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." burst out into a roar of laughter. uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "It may not come to that," said Holmes. be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had chair. went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should fasten all the windows?" the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "But his left-handedness." "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "You have the photograph?" "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a I nodded again. "I was mad--insane." Cross for the Continent." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain the tragedy. in. "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "'Is purely nominal.' wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men;