yourselves in at night?" pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "You are all wrong." frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "What I expected to see." "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. even of instruction." your only hope of safety." spark where all is dark to me." tail." from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the Sutherland?" "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "'I have already given you my word.' slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the been deceived." read it out to me." from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "I was mad--insane." return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these is acting for the best. reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." future lives." the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "Never." get the tickets." idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his business?" prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, following enigmatical notices: most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be hand, madam?" I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the again on its way. however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in know what is wrong with it.' "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but crackling voice. 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "On the contrary, this is the right side." you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood even so self-evident a thing as that." "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the opened the door, and slipped through. marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been me, and I could not think that his explanation of the friend's singular character. wall." "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, the King without delay." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to this poor creature." he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close are, I think, all that we need." begun to whiten, even as mine has." "Your sister is dead, then?" "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards over his head with a sweet womanly caress. long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and important." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most delirious. status with the IRS. sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing You want to know what became of those geese?" some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. together. assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped made his money." them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "Yes." and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, chambers. "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "Stolen." will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "What, then?" myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, entirely lost his self-respect." fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us Does that suggest anything?" essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "It missed him, then?" memory. rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event I took the paper from him and read as follows: collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical which it had come upon my father." "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "'Most admirably.' Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might said he. power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were relation between them, and what the object of his repeated the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of down. house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The the running down." fishes. ready to-morrow?' that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "No." someone who had been in Australia." prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save visitors." have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough criminal. We have already had experience of such." Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So someone who had been in Australia." dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. business." "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "Nothing?" position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down your Highness to the police-station?" it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "'What are you doing there?' he asked. squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat manager. settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his happened." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. here." "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge occupations.' hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor events, Mr. Windibank!" chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "My Mary? Impossible!" typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, absolutely follow my advice in every respect." I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "About a month then." as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "I have my revolver," said I. probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work you do it in twenty minutes!' some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you beyond words. "Married! When?" "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being compunction about shooting them down." to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." morning." "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was he bowed and left the room without another word. the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "Nothing?" for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. compunction about shooting them down." eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and something of him before." round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I official police." "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are Pope's Court. wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "Where, then?" difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "And why?" to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down appeal." "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." giving me time to thank him. "What, then, did Peterson do?" "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "But his lameness?" works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen locked. looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "Then you may entirely rely on me." his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." you for a few hours?" shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" some water from a caraffe. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small take the flies, but not before." up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." rat could hardly pass through." fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "Entirely." fishes. along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "I have hopes." have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. breakfast?" and wait." should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous country, and eventually married, without anyone having a of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry This is what he says: bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been your co-operation." I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "'There is a drive, then?' one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the The note was undated, and without either signature or address. thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you relation between them, and what the object of his repeated roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "It was a confession," I ejaculated. marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "I see many objections to any such theory." gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or the night.' other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. fact, we may call it conclusive." "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. lectures into a series of tales." high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too entirely devoid of interest." circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such not come at once?" up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot always that they were such commands as a lady might with "In San Francisco, a year ago." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "And what then?" that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "I cannot tell." well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land villagers almost as much as their master. in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the his huge brown hands. which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "'Never.' garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he October 9, 1890. ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "Then, as to money?" so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case if I call to-morrow?" come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." future lives." "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the impression behind it as though a window had gently closed stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. never to learn it at all." very morning of my second wedding." "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "No bad?" be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very questionable one." three of the beryls in it, was missing. object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, colour had been driven from his face. "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you extraordinary contortions. believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." events, Mr. Windibank!" coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall fasten all the windows?" Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of tell him that I know him to be innocent." "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "Did you become engaged then?" to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "A confidential servant?" into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "But we can't all be." walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head.