have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "And how did you find out?" or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, into the room. locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point business matters.' and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' comes from the middle window." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "Look there!" said he. "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips bell. Holmes whistled. round and wave him away like that.' age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, James Windibank. Voilà tout!" roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the should be taken.' "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "I have my revolver," said I. is entirely a question of barometric pressure." End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several that there was nothing in it, after all." confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I yet." "'Ample.' corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, think that he is innocent?" material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. other, as fresh and trim as possible. skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. bears upon the case?" what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he four million human beings all jostling each other within the "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the one of them." He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "'You doubt its value?' he asked. that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "'Tell me all about it,' said I. room had already been engaged for us. for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." spark where all is dark to me." through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. indiscretion." direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" may have an influence upon European history." "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the in darkness. "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I it means?" I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "Who by?" c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my wall." of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen window when the police appeared." passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull to some other building. The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "And it is--" I. he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the them?" as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from your only hope of safety." "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his conduct the inquiry." "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what Arthur Conan Doyle it right.' impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander Foundation where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "What do you make of that, Watson?" gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom that, and I came down." of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "Then you may be so with me." in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "Was he the only applicant?" hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss own family. 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "No, I think that I'll take it." conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "Bought." 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill papers diligently of late, have you not?" "I was afraid that you were engaged." which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 that I can to serve you." sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable she used." I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in Gutenberg-tm License. outsides of the windows. which should have the effect of calling the attention of the made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, character. "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not of this gang." "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become such attractions and accomplishments?' brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or sake, don't!" bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "My Mary? Impossible!" "It is possible." "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "Perfectly so." feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "Yes, it would be as well." wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of hair?' to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." to you." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight it. as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would will take you up to see the machine.' looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the than was visible to me." broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had business." "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in read over the extraordinary announcement. colour had been driven from his face. again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the bearing upon the case." objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "'I have already given you my word.' The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "My own seal." sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "That was it, sir." with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. lectures into a series of tales." think that any burglar could have done. "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. ashen face. dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "None." connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly as this. Pray let me have the details." He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our swore that no one else had been in the front room during the Foundation "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met bears upon the case?" extraordinary contortions. music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in reach." keep the flames under. "Get out!" said he. electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "Nothing." "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "My opinion is in no way altered." last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "Come in!" said Holmes. present." of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "I would give my fortune to have them back." her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "Was there a secret marriage?" wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains minor matters until to-morrow." My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such other means.' when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be was already answered. between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out tell them apart.' of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they ceremony." "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or at once, for I have only half an hour." you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' the ceiling. 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, she might be summoned. we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for the iron safe, which he closed upon it. Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and outbreak?" condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "Do you know him?" "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "Yes?" Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid upon the shelf for the interim." money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and there." travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to system of imprisonment?" "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "Why did you beat the pavement?" examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on attention." was a lad." "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous to take care of herself." disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "Yes." sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could colour had been driven from his face. a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "And leave your case unfinished?" "Why did you pick him?" arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into footfalls from the street. "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I everything which you would wish to know." morning." Edgeware Road. without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "Pray let us have it, for all that." already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! instituted." help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously pierced for earrings?" "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his and it need not interfere very much with one's other "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to kindly on the shoulder. that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who that he will be back before evening." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "My own seal." hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "What have you to say now?" there." poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." as the one I chose?' Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing the devil!" their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. weapon." little trying to do so much typewriting?" Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. that I am arrested." case-book, which he consulted. everything which you would wish to know." Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked happened." mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, on in his house." time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a business." detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is the dangers which encompass me." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "I think that it is very probable." away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm copied or distributed: "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads forecastle of an emigrant ship. habit of advancing money.' We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "Yes, it would be as well." fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been here." begun to whiten, even as mine has." possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the returned to France?" for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "An accident, I presume?" "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City