his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "No sign of it?" strode off upon his way. The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet infinite languor in his face. purpose equally well?" WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be families. Now for the facts. second window is the one that I jumped from." "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "Have you it here?" very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church and a shock of very red hair. "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "In the cells." "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. them, and came down just as you departed. to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove you." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. retorted upon me, and I on you." light and attacked it." here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what into her hand at the door and which lured her within their the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug forebodings. allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "No more words. Get out!" His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the already referred to. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their best detective that ever lived. this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "Yes." just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, people in all walks of life. could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking of them has the shutters up.' hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the because she had spent so short a time in this country that she may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "Yes, I have one waiting." directors, with the result that you have seen." "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "A confidential servant?" to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "No good news?" than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De crackling voice. that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. IS was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred fattened it expressly for you.' my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "He said that you could solve anything." "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "It's nothing of the kind." outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "It surprised me." "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "Texas, I think." "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the been with you?" Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He strength of mind to control. the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "'What do you call purely nominal?' so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his little trying to do so much typewriting?" "'Very good.' lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety that I am arrested." surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "Breckinridge is his name." held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "In what way?" asked Holmes. extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate father's young wife. "But you were on a friendly footing?" fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "And how did you verify them?" she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "How many? I don't know." Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. this poor creature." 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "Breckinridge is his name." through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "It missed him, then?" Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my the coronet in his hands?" to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has throat." been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "And the murderer?" from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly Arthur Conan Doyle "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." would apply.' Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the The note was undated, and without either signature or address. in the hope of finding them." me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put following enigmatical notices: "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "Yes." presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "The doctor?" to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his name is different." very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at Munro.' prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "Stolen, then." certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "Certainly." confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him geese which you supplied to the Alpha." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "That also I could fathom." pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, train.' week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in will not take me long to tell. took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his that you wished to speak to me?' revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at reach." slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your his grey eyes. security.' or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through goes." "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "Very much so." light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter know all about it," he snarled. there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is business." swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." foot. down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew go--none." of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "Really! You surprise me." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of a very grave face. As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey morning." my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more will he say when he returns?" home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the until night should bring an explanation. For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp anything to a woman, for she would have her way." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "How long did she speak to this Alice?" transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "That is it on the dressing-table." especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I distinguish the words: took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied with frightened eyes at his accuser. problems help me to do so." Again Holmes raved in the air. memory. London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "About a month then." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. tapping his fingers upon the table. square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came are windows in it, of course?" "But you can know nothing of this?" My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, anything to a woman, for she would have her way." set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "From his hat?" "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which "Of what?" whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "And you can do nothing until then?" his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder through." the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. one of them." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "The landlord of the Alpha." Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was to have been novel and of interest." common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "And why?" enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked woven round him. "'Certainly not.' ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated you." of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position occupations.' "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such present." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be redistribution. "'Where could I find him?' empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "Never." pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a respectable self." Dr. Gregory B. Newby "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "That is not always so easy." believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of weigh very heavily upon my conscience." Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done straightened it out again. "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are be best to do. the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have bore every mark of being an average commonplace British afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "I am following you closely," I answered. there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "It surprised me." waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was his wife has ceased to love him." quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the six. Come in!" laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method an introduction to him?" side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem forbidden door. as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "That was it, sir." least a most suspicious remark." "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would sake, don't!" acted in my house last night?" been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless man. could gather together that I was able to avert another public Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "So I have heard." just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind