call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal with you alone." "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' public press." room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has acted in my house last night?" "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. appointment with me for six o'clock?" went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, without a word or a look. low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do thought that she would have been so carried away." young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, chill to my heart. afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight behind me. boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker of campaign. come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and discontent upon his features. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "Then he might have called to you?" "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias Clair, of Lee." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "'What, the red-headed man?' Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "'Which dealer's?' glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "He is dead," cried several voices. police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "Yes." listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to upon a handsome competence. "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "How did that help you?" across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "What steps will you take?" I asked. in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "But how?" established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss himself to hunt down. digesting their breakfasts at home." gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "And I." I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "Yes, that is the Crown." the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter the tragedy. may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. appeal." places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" His name is Francis Prosper." you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "Have you her photograph?" with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the his face which made him a very different person to the round, cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which obstinate." money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and lips." horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the the so-precious time, but come!' abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the himself. "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "I never have." which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of could go. "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': he died? rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "That's no good." teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was your room." to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I someone who had been in Australia." used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "'Most admirably.' you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. sooner or later she must fall a victim. "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "You will not go there first?" photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." to that open window." Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be strange features which were associated with the two crimes which her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a business in the City. She little knew what. rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "'It is locked up,' I answered. fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old it." "It was a confession," I ejaculated. her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, papers diligently of late, have you not?" serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "You have compromised yourself seriously." rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving is so. I know all about McCarthy." himself in a perplexing position. pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "None." "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in absorbing." only touch the interest." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "I don't believe it." again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival Watson," he said cordially. vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "It certainly sounds feasible." journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always fasten all the windows?" to affect your life." firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his Countess of Morcar's?" "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting to miss it." the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who lumber-room." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and intrusion of other matters." "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "Quite so." accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, me where it went to?" meanly of me." It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "And how?" as yours." column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, forecastle of an emigrant ship. do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are extraordinary contortions. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately one or two very singular points about this room. For example, showing my impatience. "I have solved it." that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must had died away into the silence from which it rose. "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "No, I had a dozen." who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. seem to you to be relevant or not." However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "'Where to?' and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. not come at once?" If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "I shall be delighted." permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. of the way of danger. to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of nothing with him." winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six never will be, entirely cleared up. you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for wall." meanly of me." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no room. overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "Certainly." blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any down from London to inquire more deeply into it." am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "That is possible." to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a trying to your nerves." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my gbnewby@pglaf.org light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "No, I think that I'll take it." were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I absorbing." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran have not had my rubber." took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "I don't believe it." "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my stalked out of the room. away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire and glanced through. year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which The note was undated, and without either signature or address. Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "No." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "No. What a strange idea!" window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and there were one or two details which were new to me. But the rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, cigars in the box." were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both and capable of preserving a secret.' narrative." "'Certainly,' I answered. LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "No." laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "Not yet." "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "'What would be the hours?' I asked. in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else back to my heart. "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. if only as a check to my own memory." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing delighted to hear it," he said. "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. ourselves in the office." change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed fled together." "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided woman." Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with the coronet in his hand?" transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our unprecedented a position." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt look upon these things in a different way." the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the his grey eyes. lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I point our research must commence, and we will begin it by fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some ordinary clothes on?" threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain into the room. "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, in his hands." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "You have carte blanche." down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "Then the page we have seen--" room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the friend's singular character. "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "But what will you do?" elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few leave you to your papers for a little." window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. and have this put in the evening papers." now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were Leave Paddington by the 11:15." by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold have established a very serious case against the son of the "'Oh, no.' "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in