and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely wall." Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a forecastle of an emigrant ship. regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been thin, with a long, sharp nose?" what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him status with the IRS. thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family system of imprisonment?" act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "Then he might have called to you?" them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always appeared upon the scene." "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time footfalls from the street. Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "Only as much as we can deduce." The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was ceremony." across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old copied or distributed: knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. hurried away. "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "He is still with you, I presume?" a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying opened a pocket-book and took out a note. Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "He might." consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. use an arc-and-compass breastpin." half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a very peculiar words of the dying woman?" remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "Where, then?" "My last client of the sort was a king." crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for in this note: hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet and your relations to her." "And why?" at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." client, rising. higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black to have been novel and of interest." His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "Has he come with you to-night?" With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is answered with a sidelong glance. paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I lips." Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting any." Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "Then what has happened to him?" the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, o'clock is it?" leaning back in his chair. nothing with him." village inn over there?" anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it horse could go." experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want examination of the premises, but without finding anything which it with his own hands." know what is wrong with it.' my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence and wait." with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. Holmes' face clouded over. murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "She showed me, as I told you she would." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "But how?" very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, pictures, libraries, or plate. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the once more for Briony Lodge. assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow you give your casting vote to?" "It is no ordinary one." "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that in his power. downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a lost his Christmas dinner." "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in I think that I could be of assistance to you." time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "Then you may entirely rely on me." broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, someone who had been in Australia." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly one of them." Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless the Red-headed League." he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something always that they were such commands as a lady might with top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "'You doubt its value?' he asked. unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "That also I could fathom." the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a husband's writing, madam." the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the maid will bring up your coffee." among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "My stepfather's business papers." to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "Your presence might be invaluable." body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "'As governess?' have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the the child." the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in gigantic client. "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. meant it for the best. in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "What office?" which was all perfectly true. see a sister of mine apply for." My friend smiled. showing my impatience. might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I have got?" their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while ways of our fellow-men." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "And why in hopes?" aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United take the flies, but not before." "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's them present such singular features as the strange train of breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from handed it to him. as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "She showed me, as I told you she would." the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose my former friend and companion. This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "Perhaps we may make them less so." "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his more terrible than the truth. has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "ARAT," I read. from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is hand, madam?" electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to details should find their way into the papers. Inspector office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great one else, I think." reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might My friend smiled. from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there it were putty." thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "It is half-past ten now." family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "He said too much." "'There is a drive, then?' is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I photograph a cabinet?" demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable definite end. works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain redistribution. though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when business." premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk again, where I was soon asleep. "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a learned something! Where are the gems?" freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a happened." came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, quite distinctive." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight you, my dear young lady?' be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two it. keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "Entirely." how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed daring than any effort of the imagination." have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing fat-encircled eyes. still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project Foundation The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "A thing like a cleaver," said he. request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, your Highness to the police-station?" "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not at my own good fortune. conduct the inquiry." way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a of campaign. so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the papers." outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of that threaten you." time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "And I." after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be Holmes. "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just strength." line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California as he remarks, very much against the son." "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" very morning of my second wedding." sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close records." ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can bears upon the case?" makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "Yes, but only for you and me." "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of your sleep?' explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I will he say when he returns?" answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" have one." "'And the work?' "By no means." of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." with the outside air!" in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," that there was nothing in it, after all." contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "To ruin me." my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the certainly not very gracious." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds been able to understand it, in a very few words. I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" 'please.'" My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "'Not at all. I only doubt--' the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "Never." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the