giving me time to thank him. ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY chance." "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of where she found matters as described by the last witness. "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in *** START: FULL LICENSE *** the nursery. three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "Just look it up, then." "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing only touch the interest." now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," south, for the country is more deserted there." woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout London for the present?" before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. or in danger--" down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his he died? "My opinion is in no way altered." disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred call for it in person on Monday morning.' back into the street. Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with to affect your life." know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "Nothing?" "One of his hands." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All tell me that you intended to go into harness." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "'About the same.' remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of article?" Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." outside. me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City up this clue while it is still hot." dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "Yes, from Horsham." have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, his knees, staring into the fire. be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "I should be immensely obliged to you." Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions mysterious business." "Pray let us have it, for all that." "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these highly," said Holmes. hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "I am in hopes that she does." Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "What have you done?" asked Holmes. entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "Not in a good cause." continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide memory. "Yes, the wine-cellar." have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "Is he quiet?" intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "What then?" was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "Yes." Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "Witness: I must still refuse. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "Texas, I think." in the port of London." of a light. by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "You horrify me." "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and there was no need for father to know." case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for must compliment you." "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "Certainly." "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "And what did you learn from him?" Arthur Conan Doyle brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his and have this put in the evening papers." "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "I have a cab outside." And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was seven miles from Eyford Station.' them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that pound a week." a room. "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always towards the blaze. by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who window when the police appeared." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "To the police?" hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "I should like to see him very much." and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." vague figure huddled up in the darkness. and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was threw himself down with his face to the pillow. unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the showing my impatience. hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a father's place of business?" low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "In which, sir?" He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward good-night and bustled off upon her way. occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "Did he not advertise?" nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "Yes, it was twisted." Holmes." "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the back to my heart. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in behind me. "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her purpose equally well?" copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "I have my revolver," said I. at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, Holmes' thin, eager face. learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and foresight and the moral retrogression?" "What do you make of that, Watson?" hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his to talk it over. heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith interest. They are important, you understand, without being strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "But not more so than I to find you." the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead seven miles from Eyford Station.' Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my strength of mind to control. stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. photograph?" Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made approach us with offers to donate. Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "I cannot imagine." we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose the loss of it. "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the the so-precious time, but come!' the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! face and glided from the room. "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "Can I be of assistance?" "You have carte blanche." possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, memory. Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic waste of energy." your troubles." was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "Certainly." and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon address. had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "Deserted you?" "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "You did not overhear what they said?" "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "He is still with you, I presume?" "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very 1.E.9. gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "I never have." always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever posted to-day." his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were the morning and make my own way in the world.' gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be is," said he presently: himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "That you are never beaten." which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "She showed me, as I told you she would." to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we could not account in any way for the presence of the missing brandy and water within his reach. "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I telegram would bring me down to your help." an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a desk. still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at chance." existence." "Very much so." "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "What I expected to see." INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as Pope's Court, Fleet Street." 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards writing, and yet I know it well." "He said that you could solve anything." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." morning." "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been careless servant girl?" valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, to-morrow." and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a it? Did I buy the geese off you?" occupations.' gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house husband's writing, madam." "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "Pray continue your narrative." doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. business in the City. She little knew what. Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and fatally injured? "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." felt the room to be a little close.' was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "It is very clear." "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have begin with, and I had not got mine yet." was not a bird to be seen there. With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which which I could not give. He asked for Alice. put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. system of imprisonment?" Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom that there was nothing in it, after all." very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. since then to throw any light upon what became of him." this unhappy family?" fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier me what he had done with the three missing stones. "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "Did he not advertise?" Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "Very much so." better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, brought there to personate someone, and the real person is without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to Sholtos." river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the away in different directions, and I went off to make my own person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping answered with a sidelong glance. said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old Gutenberg-tm License. remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of yet." up this clue while it is still hot." prisoner's face. his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one believe that I should never have any practice at all. business." many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns