the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for business?" purpose equally well?" impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "I think it very unlikely." sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "Where, then, is my wife?" "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and waste of energy." How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the placed his cuttings. bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made in his power. into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had direction." of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email and capable of preserving a secret.' "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the place of silver." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this were new raised from a basin. "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "If I can be of use." word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune detective. concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared was it brought him the coronet? time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who acquaintance?" "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he opened the door, and slipped through. rose-bushes. "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' he died? "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your Holmes. that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building his face which made him a very different person to the round, rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "At half-wages, in fact." "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling to arrive at through this?" far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his troubles have been weighing upon his mind. that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "Witness: I must still refuse. Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events It was close upon four before the door opened, and a difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "I see no marks." unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "A greater distance to travel." which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "Well." "I cannot tell." "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "He said too much." had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? the coronet at all injured?" should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "Yes, from Horsham." them?" of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." about here speaks of his kindness to him." What do you deduce from it?" mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "My stepfather's business papers." indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "How did that help you?" someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "My own seal." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "Yes." at my remark. "But you can know nothing of this?" arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were narrative." home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "He said that you could solve anything." freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "Why? What do you mean?" connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "That was it, sir." with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from dead, shall be safe with us." somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from paper in the air. seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have yards of it?' "'A dozen yards or so.' held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "This photograph!" correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "Then he might have called to you?" and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a Mary, has deserted me." utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this points in connection with it which never have been, and probably Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "Yes." "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, young Openshaw's." Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that bill, which interests me deeply." in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "And Miss Sutherland?" a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "What do you mean?" o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the towards the blaze. tassel actually lying upon the pillow. breakfast." on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round present strange and interesting features that it is no easy receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "'Certainly,' I answered. broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "'Yes, sir.' nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "The knees of his trousers." civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. secret." lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part fait accompli?" scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the laugh and put his lips to my ear. seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "'I am sure if I had known--' "That is possible." shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and to tell." astonishment. Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of along the entire front of the house, with three long windows there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this felt?" "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a beg that you will break it off." daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her and your relations to her." him to go away.' ourselves in the office." bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the observed. "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, these bleak autumnal evenings." death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible neither fascinating nor artistic." "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small made him keep the appointment." himself to hunt down. "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an the date of his supposed suicide." must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I distance from the station, and there we found the young lady there!' "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you with frightened eyes at his accuser. "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these and a shock of very red hair. LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "By all means." that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not the salesman. in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "Yes." drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "You are certainly joking, Holmes." room?" served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and Holmes' thin, eager face. the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was during the last few years, and there are many noble families to come either from the window or the door. My attention was reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "What!" he roared. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of you understand?" was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "Then he might have called to you?" the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, the coroner come to?" "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "What do you mean?" murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must been with you?" solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "Then I shall certainly come." back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her before, for it was considerably after midnight. chill to my heart. heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both in a very precise fashion." my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "Why, what do you mean?" have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how searched, without anything being found which could incriminate hardly wander." pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One bed dies. Does not that strike you?" plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to husband's writing, madam." "I cannot say that I have." this unhappy family?" refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity Eyford at 11:15.' when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter burst out into a roar of laughter. own family. astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me felt?" pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic writing, and yet I know it well." place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's Sholtos." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "I should like to see him very much." "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "Yes, only one." "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "One of the highest in England." showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "One of the highest in England." King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's Does that suggest anything?" dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the beg that you will break it off." His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "Where, indeed?" "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "Your French gold?" "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all as noiselessly as she had come. "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "Come in!" said he. returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, she has been waylaid. There has been no result." and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "Eh? What was that?" going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "That is possible." the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "Yes." I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have For additional contact information: eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch jewels which you have stolen?' wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the yards of it?' transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed confronted him. guilty parties." when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "My dear Holmes!" suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there whether it answered to the description of any of their chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." province." into the bag, and made for the door. some terrible trap for her." graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be said I. "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others own family. or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of to-morrow." before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could nothing with him." the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United British peeress.'" I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw The King stared at him in amazement. the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It indeed happy." public press." so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass one or two very singular points about this room. For example, this remarkable episode. at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, served to weaken the effect. into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some imbecility!" he cried. "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them light and attacked it." "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "And did you observe any change in her then?" me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "That is possible." derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "Yes." I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "You horrify me!" previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "How do you know, then?" "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the examination of the premises, but without finding anything which Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for Project Gutenberg-tm works. "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had