pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell the little opening for the ventilator is." pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. The events in question occurred in the early days of my ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something note?" distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train is acting for the best. was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "Yes." "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to bedroom door." "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to conversation I have gathered that they have been married about position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "Her father is very rich?" inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. singular points about the case. What did the police think of the balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly enough to aid us in our search." was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I breakfast?" "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" been lifted and conveyed somewhere." husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of not come at once?" "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "And you thought he was pulled back?" Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly think, you have already met." heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "'Never.' is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "I cannot think." is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged least a fellow-countryman. "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to distinguish the words: he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of face and glided from the room. vanished into the darkness. Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "It goes to the housekeeper's room." observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a infinite languor in his face. ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "I shall most certainly do so." of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "I cannot say that I have." manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed habit of advancing money.' "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have certainly not very gracious." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint chance." after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at this poor creature." repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties outsides of the windows. not come at once?" But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "Then you may be so with me." now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the shadow pass over his face as I spoke. reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "And what did you learn from him?" garden below. "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "Yes." weigh very heavily upon my conscience." did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "'Never,' said I. which was all perfectly true. inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the go--none." ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "Yes, it was twisted." "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will existence." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "I see many objections to any such theory." They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which tightly behind him. absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "And on what day did he meet his death?" for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his locked." "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "One?" "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of of them has the shutters up.' thin legs towards the fire. than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There be there in time for your coming." work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "I am all attention, madam." you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "So I am. Very much so." "What is it?" "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "You saw the ventilator, too?" that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "It is very kind of you." "Quite so." said he. and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "I am still in the dark." I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling respectable self." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard father's place of business?" chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "Holmes, the busybody!" helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "I am armed." cost them two and thirty pounds." "Then I am your man." necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and child?' "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She gone. "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't down. "Yes, from Horsham." her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must with her." "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would IS about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" crackling voice. square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary highly," said Holmes. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some shall use the carriage to-night." "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the some mystery and the punishment of some crime." make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a it." knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "His face fell immediately. that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he there." With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full grasp, he hurried from the room. and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of cigars in the box." considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "And sit in the dark?" believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards chambers. Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came the little opening for the ventilator is." confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from house for five minutes.' snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered we went to search for him, face downward in a little Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "At half-wages, in fact." 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "It is very clear." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets Count Von Kramm." "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "'Ample.' building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches attention." observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "Here?" makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I little trying to do so much typewriting?" greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be upon a handsome competence. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "But how?" "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his both be extremely obliged.' the iron safe, which he closed upon it. unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "I shall be delighted." Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the views." France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet The King stared at him in amazement. "'Where could I find him?' "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our notes," he said. Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "No, I am descending." centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "Has he come with you to-night?" one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted never will be, entirely cleared up. "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "How do you know, then?" "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." round with crates and massive boxes. "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America other lovers by making love himself." black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came been." it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that asked. have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There highly," said Holmes. inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the It was close upon four before the door opened, and a and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "It was." overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to most interesting one." there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long Eyford at 11:15.' reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after least a fellow-countryman. "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a Sutherland. adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "It is true that I have been generally successful." "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was think that he is innocent?" "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "Yes, he did." into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of situation." "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' Holmes' thin, eager face. there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of annoyance, but no jest. the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever own family. chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for McCarthy's innocence. "Get out!" said he. was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the Clair, of Lee." more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself heavily into it. overpowering excitement and concern. that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous respectable self." had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" nights." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a works. See paragraph 1.E below. belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "My stepfather's business papers." heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers.