second." "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "A confidential servant?" at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark third from London." "'I am sure if I had known--' season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague them?" cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that six. Come in!" sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "How are you getting on?" the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should points to suicide?" away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" I approached. Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I had a long day." that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or hour." village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but front of me. to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "And is that all?" "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life to tell." prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to ourselves in the office." chemical work which was so dear to him. me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be know all about it," he snarled. the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth then?" takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making Street. face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the I was concerned in it." footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that know that the truth is known." "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "I don't believe it." "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, dramatic, in fact." "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "No?" "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "Absolutely none." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "Never." "I cannot tell." opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he once more. "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of carpenter." Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I Street. here and I will read it to you: problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well lamp. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you situation." out." space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just least a fellow-countryman. "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. that you saw all that I did." "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the feature." in my life." prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's where we are going." hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. in. "You think so, too?" "I cannot think." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and is now desirous of getting those letters back." in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. me upon any point which I do not make clear." think that any burglar could have done. had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the is," said he presently: stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" troubles have been weighing upon his mind. sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce pressing in one house as in another. o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "No good news?" has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and young Openshaw's." corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "I would give my fortune to have them back." understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly train from Paddington which would bring you there at about come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "On the contrary, this is the right side." balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "That was it, sir." inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "You have compromised yourself seriously." so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "Yes, sir." since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from and laid it on the table. may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." foresight and the moral retrogression?" address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "What, then?" "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very at my remark. "He is dead," cried several voices. how narrow had been my escape. "Now, then, what's the last entry?" search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "'Entirely.' "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a the armchair which I pushed forward for him. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not was shining brightly. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, do.' list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which the King without delay." "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "And why?" "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. entirely lost his self-respect." "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "'As governess?' farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of sneer upon his pale face. fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my death." points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "Then he might have called to you?" "But I am all in the dark." status with the IRS. penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' even so self-evident a thing as that." passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "I will get her to show me." "It surprised me." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any posted to-day." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking lamp. 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "No, I had a dozen." house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "Certainly." thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "No more words. Get out!" danger is over." I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any formed some opinion?" not within a twentieth part of the market price." safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his as this. Pray let me have the details." why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite more solid." against a man in the prime of life?" premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face girl said." the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking whole matter to your consideration." right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "Absolutely none." "Certainly." black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her to miss it." dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the depend upon your compliance." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord likely to be some crony of the landlady's." beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." sparkled upon his finger. chemical work which was so dear to him. drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such the so-precious time, but come!' where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of highroad, where all traces were lost. I shall communicate with you." "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little on in his house." stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a if only as a check to my own memory." assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in investigation." column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't not use it unless it is absolutely needed." is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty You want to know what became of those geese?" the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" which was all perfectly true. right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate simple cases which are so extremely difficult." better in every way that they should make their position a little my room." ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "It is half-past ten now." mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "The doctor?" a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable my special province." jewels which you have stolen?' rooms." to arrive at through this?" "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "Your sister is dead, then?" Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "It surprised me." beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me rose-bushes. to affect your life." pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for to Leatherhead. The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as individual and becomes the badge of a society." "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "You have it, sir, just as it happened." and wait." was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me should be taken.' of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear recall any case within my experience which looked at the first foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to round and wave him away like that.' ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous this remarkable episode. place, I think that there is good ground to think that the where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had meanly of me." "And you can do nothing until then?" "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple train.' and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but