her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can seen the man in the road." hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "'A dozen yards or so.' Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are relief. drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my "I should be immensely obliged to you." "In heaven's name, what for?" inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "I am following you closely," I answered. Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about You want to know what became of those geese?" some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when jewels which you have stolen?' coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf awaited us upon the table. wanted for ourselves." he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. 'I should be able to look after that for you.' refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my a little more before I quite committed myself. acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "You are all wrong." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "Nearly eleven." chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "'Never,' said I. "But how did you gain them?" Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but secret." right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "My last client of the sort was a king." feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from strength." returning from some small jollification and was making his way be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "Holmes, the busybody!" should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "I cannot tell." play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such with you alone." willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "Quite so. She has her freedom." "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': gbnewby@pglaf.org it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question and that he would see to anything that turned up. the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my some place of shelter and let the county police know what has her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "My photograph." the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "But who is he?" "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home for the market.' "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and bedroom door." more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "But your client--" than to us. was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, be. the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, stepfather?" multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. suddenly upon us." The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "Was your sister dressed?" they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." him nearly every evening." this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring speckled band?" of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was the coroner come to?" "Pray tell us what has happened to you." force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "Yes, I have one waiting." "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It friend's singular character. he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was the room while you explain this matter?" to some other building. vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a trifles." us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "Why, what do you mean?" fact, we may call it conclusive." For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "He is dead," cried several voices. "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin Street. tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his 11:15.' which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "It's nothing of the kind." Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always electronic works seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. and wait." it." and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "'And the work?' discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same manager. her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the humiliation." 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I with frightened eyes at his accuser. endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of your most interesting statement." Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six head. So long, then!" to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. like that before?" "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite examination of the premises, but without finding anything which that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "'Quite sure, dad.' license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and galvanised. all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "We must have a cab." against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a you understand?" member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we that, and I came down." call the police, let the police find what they can.' "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the village inn over there?" Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is disturbance in my wife." and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and the very morning of the wedding." of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "And is that all?" breakfast." "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "So I heard. You have him here?" considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "Ha! you find it so?" house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! his eyes and forehead. "It is solved." going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "Murdered?" "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking that "You horrify me." "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I touch that coronet?' leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until later, upon the night of May 2nd." to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "'Is purely nominal.' been shamefully used." "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "On the contrary, this is the right side." green of the new foliage. "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, of note-paper. It read in this fashion: father's young wife. "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice soul! here is her carriage at the door." note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "It came here." beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who mysterious end." come either from the window or the door. My attention was and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "'Is purely nominal.' Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "Yes." like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his through." himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' character. however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "Where is it, then?" "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a shoulder; "he's all right." refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "I cannot think." His name is Francis Prosper." was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table said Mr. Holder. good for you to do.' hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." Miss Holder?" "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of back into the street. the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "'About the same.' specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You to-night's adventure." neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "Game for a morning drive?" already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned him and tried to hold him back. "Why, what do you mean?" stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "That is it on the dressing-table." importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "Yes." "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "'In my own bureau.' "So I heard. You have him here?" doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." invisible to me," I remarked. stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations people in all walks of life. have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "I cannot say that I have." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "But he might be a bachelor." "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he friends, not even his own brother. house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped tail." come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I question," said Holmes, smiling. it." "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "Yes, at the mines." made him keep the appointment." the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you presented more singular features than that which was associated law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers and the whole place is in a blaze." "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "The Coroner: What do you mean? coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "'Certainly not. But why?'