occupations.' "None." sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "But what is it you wish?" to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house questioning and rather startled gaze. have one." which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out money should be paid at once.' better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY few hundred pounds.' red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "Get out!" said he. vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. of campaign. which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while bearing upon the case." Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you me. creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your straightened it out again. "You horrify me!" father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "I will not look." must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that note?" "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "And how?" "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to the child." Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a seem to you to be relevant or not." held up the lantern and gazed about him. never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan sufficient punishment." One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "'I have heard so.' myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt with you alone." vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this like that before?" and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa intimate personal affairs in this public manner." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not instituted." thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several Holmes' face clouded over. heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "ARAT," I read. this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "It was." agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "I came to find a friend." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I province." the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he tell him that I know him to be innocent." became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done in him." window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "The best possible." "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, back into the street. "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the never to learn it at all." "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into that "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic intrusion of other matters." burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in six. Come in!" process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "My dear Holmes!" going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that situation." eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "What can you not understand?" "Never." silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "This photograph!" that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet train from Paddington which would bring you there at about 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had once more. "'There is a drive, then?' near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." the matter." my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and I nodded to show that I had heard. sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. locked." "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "'Not at all. I only doubt--' a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." about here speaks of his kindness to him." him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "Did you become engaged then?" off." association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "But how did you gain them?" accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "That's no good." "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "I am following you closely," I answered. "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to south, for the country is more deserted there." promised to bring home. understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" sufficient punishment." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see chemical work which was so dear to him. "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight despaired of." answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" sit on the left-hand side of the driver." compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "What is it, then--a fire?" aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through his face which made him a very different person to the round, union?" "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to characteristics, but those are the more obvious." to-night's adventure." and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you whereabouts. the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "My dear Holmes!" little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw in. last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "How many? I don't know." advice." "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "Did your wife hear all this?" "You are all wrong." It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my for and were ordered to this address. appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment lectures into a series of tales." shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." not personally threatened." "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who hand, madam?" across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "Which are?" ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry to arrive at through this?" property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a your Highness to the police-station?" whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who outsides of the windows. yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how out of this horrible affair." hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then system of imprisonment?" he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If placed his cuttings. Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest strength in the others." my former friend and companion. is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen tassel actually lying upon the pillow. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise was already answered. "Then I do not see the point." narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he pressing in one house as in another. "No. His orders were to stay in the house." writers could invent nothing more crude." "Which surely he restored to their owner?" fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his families. Now for the facts. "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For help us in this matter." habit of advancing money.' My friend smiled. he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. who was a member of your goose club." "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at and wait." dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "I was mad--insane." whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "Yes, there are nearly always some there." gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am sufficient punishment." moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, empty. behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases get her out of the way." fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "No good news?" comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "What, then, did Peterson do?" Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my the inner apartment." have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, to some other building. are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "I say it is." get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "What! a murderous attack?" the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business interests were the same as his." against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks the tragedy. neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of name is different." "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "That is unusual in a young girl." about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "Not social, then?" horse could go." might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "It's nothing of the kind." that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the him. particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "Texas, I think." saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "Texas, I think." ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. particular state visit http://pglaf.org believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "To the police?" younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia his grey eyes. front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. weary and pale-looking. pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are arrangements." "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "Entirely." sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were be best to do. evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a see a sister of mine apply for." scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "My Mary? Impossible!" however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might coat-tails." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them at my own good fortune. "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one children over to America with him, so that I found myself without scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "'Quite sure, dad.' "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" right! Sit down and let us talk it over." http://gutenberg.net/license). married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but felt the room to be a little close.' doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I walking." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the conclusions. "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was vague figure huddled up in the darkness. 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "Very much so." views." object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to direction." headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and