"The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were matter over." the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective discontent upon his features. passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. footfalls from the street. kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, behind me. undoubtedly my uncle's." and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, desk. one's self under obligations.' across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "Only as much as we can deduce." compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I row." the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. already referred to. perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "'Where to?' "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his roused himself from his reverie. suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "Your French gold?" nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "Well." "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with sentimental considerations in the background which would induce three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers a monotonous occupation." conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that arrangements." ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "Not social, then?" "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "Do you know him?" "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. at home. point our research must commence, and we will begin it by low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of the child." "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. what is your own theory as to what took place?" "I am sure." "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take married her." several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "Well, but China?" felt the room to be a little close.' nice household for a young lady." bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your to tell." "No, I am descending." "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul DAMAGE. Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "'Yes, sir.' This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their which it had come upon my father." "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis in a very precise fashion." something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." awaited us upon the table. Street. and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my green of the new foliage. "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "The King of Scandinavia." this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, enough to aid us in our search." for securing the situation." their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "So I heard. You have him here?" elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so suggested at once that there must be a communication between the it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," infinite languor in his face. eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in presented which may be striking and bizarre without being his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of Cross for the Continent." "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "Very. But will he see it?" to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' desk. struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "To an English lawyer named Norton." you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "My photograph." and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for Holmes' room. his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had enter into my head. may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously whether it answered to the description of any of their stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows troubles have been weighing upon his mind. is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his article?" straighten it?" The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back behind me. Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the over his head with a sweet womanly caress. enter into my head. above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be possible that we could bring him back to her? on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing and laid it on the table. Leave Paddington by the 11:15." About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from ways of our fellow-men." As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry I was concerned in it." in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a official police." Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "'Quite sure, dad.' "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a Gutenberg-tm License. new duties?' However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "Very truly yours, sentimental considerations in the background which would induce nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my that you can jump it.' Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "But the mystery?" fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my highly," said Holmes. corner of the building. without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "But I have heard all that you have heard." "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "The Cedars?" him, that man would not have given me such complete information double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a so.' "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to distance from the station, and there we found the young lady Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly companion. before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was do." "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few too. Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be voice, changing her seat as requested. and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are in this way: "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the Holmes." what do you think they found in the pockets?" "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. purpose of examination. "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "And it is--" brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. is a common subject for conversation. about. glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "What! a murderous attack?" feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "And when will you call?" the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "She walked into the breakfast-room." not within a twentieth part of the market price." dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "And how in the world did you find them?" "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of had picked up in the wood. Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, been able to understand it, in a very few words. the coronet at all injured?" despair." "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to what I may call a really hard day's work." in darkness. "Thank you. And your address?" and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "No, I had a dozen." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from photograph a cabinet?" "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A God! What an exposure! What can I do?" lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question some mystery and the punishment of some crime." to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and the bed, and you in that chair." it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "Where, then, is my wife?" She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" placed his cuttings. remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. Lee, in the county of Kent." the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous character. hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "Yes?" "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his giving me time to thank him. absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "'Not at all. I only doubt--' allusion to a rat. "It is possible." It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less Heh?' "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "'What, the red-headed man?' that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable during which he might have communicated with his friend the fear." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a of his shoulders. was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "My last client of the sort was a king." themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if and wait." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some had picked up in the wood. surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "You have a clue?" without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "But how?" without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was straightened it out again. overpowering excitement and concern. afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "Very truly yours, will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and question you as to those details which seem to me to be most when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room to-night." Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far http://www.gutenberg.net whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "But how could you guess what the motive was?" hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there crime. he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had not fit the lock." was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "But what harm can there be in that?" abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. from you?" the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into in the dead of the night?' prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view business." eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no His smile broadened. with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "Where, then, is my wife?" Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the what do you think they found in the pockets?" result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. wedding?" End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the is so. I know all about McCarthy." Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "Absolutely?" he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the unkempt, staring out at me. that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are