glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble them, and came down just as you departed. filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let he bowed and left the room without another word. visitors." beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I congratulate you again." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had is four-and-twenty." "Just look it up, then." was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out you." house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "'I am sure that I do not know.' truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "Yes, it would be as well." "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. the coroner come to?" and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then the coronet in his hands?" went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a all-comprehensive glances. "Why? What do you mean?" passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the retorted upon me, and I on you." grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted which our visitor detailed to us. of receipt of the work. "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "On the contrary, this is the right side." considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "How long did she speak to this Alice?" waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "My opinion is in no way altered." little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an singular points about the case. What did the police think of the at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "I have solved it." "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered daring than any effort of the imagination." point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a this remarkable episode. and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray appeal." "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped yet." on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "Not yet." "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were be.' smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "You are hungry," I remarked. "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. his wife has ceased to love him." hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming house for five minutes.' "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. completely overtopped every other consideration that we both then?" room?" outside." you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "No. What a strange idea!" month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." out of this horrible affair." fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found presented which may be striking and bizarre without being right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial very old mansion. home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check who was a member of your goose club." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's events than those which have happened in my own family." just ask you whether you had heard it.' hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss here." years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his certainly do as you advise." access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said me have 200 pounds?' "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "Now, then, what's the last entry?" came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "His face fell immediately. "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the to talk it over. "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "'What then?' I asked. from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" all?" there were so many in the whole country as were brought together the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a intrusion of other matters." dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black strength of mind to control. at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the and glanced through. "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "I am about to be married." lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no secret." ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up would apply.' London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after you?' the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "None." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since and glanced through. possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been washing it down with a long draught of water. and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. strange features which were associated with the two crimes which 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have during that time.' Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. maid will bring up your coffee." "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be absorbing." "What will you do, then?" iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "Entirely." looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "'Why that?' I asks. Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "Witness: It was. if only as a check to my own memory." Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a upon an income of about 60 pounds." mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "From his hat?" successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "Holmes, the busybody!" more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "About a month then." His name is Francis Prosper." Sholtos." the Assizes." weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I straightened it out again. We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers leave you to your papers for a little." "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when other lovers by making love himself." "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "No. What a strange idea!" France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "The best possible." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my asked. the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "Could he throw no light?" calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for are, and they are waiting for us." "Well?" prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he quick march!" the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was started for the Temple to see my husband. would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "Seven!" I answered. study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand investigation." vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "But the mystery?" that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind writing, and yet I know it well." pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too this poor creature." they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone quite distinctive." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we over part of the map. "What do you read?" glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built I approached. since then to throw any light upon what became of him." would apply.' strength." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "Now, then, what's the last entry?" gone. the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "You'll never persuade me to believe that." photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "That is possible." "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "Where, indeed?" ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And power." Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "'I shall certainly be there.' her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until village inn over there?" stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left out." The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from placed his cuttings. long narrative. strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they appointment with me for six o'clock?" "Yesterday." ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "Yes." o'clock is it?" "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "Where, indeed?" bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "And for present expenses?" the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "I am about to be married." closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I man. "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that is a common subject for conversation. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the photograph?" of a light. "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "My Mary? Impossible!" adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "'About the same.' Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to of a light. fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. colonel looking down at me. were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in to affect your life." those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were himself to tell his story. morning." course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" since then to throw any light upon what became of him." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I.