quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again suspect him." "But she will refuse." left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "He slept on the premises." Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the just ask you whether you had heard it.' before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending were unconscious?" feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He Count Von Kramm." dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep salesman. Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could persecution?" A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying of." moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a details should find their way into the papers. Inspector plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down affair. all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you strode off upon his way. sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "No." chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He Stoke Moran." would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you because she had spent so short a time in this country that she propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a hurried away. his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and locked." sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "Indeed! Whose, then?" for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "Where is it, then?" "And how did you find out?" it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in questioning and rather startled gaze. to-night's adventure." encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and lips." "She walked into the breakfast-room." "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "You have but to name it." street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "Where did he live, then?" and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "One horse?" interjected Holmes. him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "Then I do not see the point." He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "My Mary? Impossible!" deduce something from that?" "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "What then?" distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into to a more successful conclusion." which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "You horrify me." "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "I am armed." light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, this as likely?" seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping Eyford." "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "Was the window open?" mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "'Yes.' "'I shall certainly be there.' "You know me, then?" "'No, I know no one in these parts.' the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love with the outside air!" well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "I was certainly surprised to find you there." Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "'It is locked up,' I answered. "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' and looked back. of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged man. freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have I leave." all?" my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the you understand?" it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The have got?" "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the what I may call a really hard day's work." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room girl said." what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, undoubtedly my uncle's." man. "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must as noiselessly as she had come. were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds whereabouts. companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it you." fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas strength." with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly to me. "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "Pray let us have it, for all that." from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it did not hear it also.' the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. there was no need for father to know." makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and success. Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our crackling voice. than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "'Very good.' "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was of Mr. Rucastle's." investigation." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "None. Neville wrote those words." "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged past. to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I but preventing her from injuring another. in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "In what way?" asked Holmes. "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap ourselves in the office." "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, said he at last. little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I Chief Executive and Director it." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of God! What an exposure! What can I do?" upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "Get out!" said he. discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he sit on the left-hand side of the driver." the coronet in his hand?" engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is friends, not even his own brother. in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for very peculiar words of the dying woman?" time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason experiences." the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "That sounds a little paradoxical." you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "None." moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "Yes, all." my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "Witness: Nothing definite. reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had he died? "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for carried out of court." that you can jump it.' directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "And your father? Did you tell him?" as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His simple cases which are so extremely difficult." was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "The Coroner: What do you mean? 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure directors, with the result that you have seen." While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few such person." premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' the loss of it. even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I obstinate." "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "It is his hat." the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among she used." face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring me what he had done with the three missing stones. of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, call it cruel." better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb keep the flames under. severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was business." Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "That is not always so easy." "Where, then?" good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in Countess of Morcar's?" although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with Count Von Kramm." "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "I will, Miss Turner." to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice character. been deceived." bell. Holmes whistled. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." time." is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "If so, much may have happened between." ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "You have but to name it." although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One she has been waylaid. There has been no result." have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to was it brought him the coronet? fluttered off among the others. me. You must get home instantly and act." she has been waylaid. There has been no result." suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I train from Paddington which would bring you there at about To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "It missed him, then?" the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "Ten will be early enough." "Never to return." every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed is four-and-twenty." wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had papers." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." you understand?" "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "I fear not." him!" delirious. where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly tassel actually lying upon the pillow. light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "'Where to?' I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. is acting for the best. in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous thin legs towards the fire. "'What, the red-headed man?' position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the the Red-headed League." find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?"