"My dear Holmes!" found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "No, distinctly professional." companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "I am sure." dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the been anything against him. He had for years been known as a he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "I should be immensely obliged to you." coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. Mrs. Toller serenely. he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "It surprised me." use an arc-and-compass breastpin." remarked. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you once more. "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the meant it for the best. the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "It was an hour's good drive." a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, very old mansion. while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating Holmes' thin, eager face. "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" was a perfect sample of the class. into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that chemical work which was so dear to him. off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "'And what salary do you ask?' saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several in. awkward doing business with an alias." of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "I know where it is." peculiar to him. "The best possible." you." beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "Yes, certainly." assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, know that the truth is known." certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "You forget that I know nothing about it." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given The summons was a brief and urgent one. "I think that I had better go, Holmes." Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence row." here." "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary your most interesting statement." day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On in one or two places in England?' said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, particular state visit http://pglaf.org sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "What then?" room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I of the one which your family is now devouring." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort Doctor, of the paper and the date." brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "None." hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then this man was intellectual?" I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "Was your sister dressed?" "You have a clue?" steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "Yes, I have one waiting." The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "Never to return." business at Coburg Square is serious." appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: three fields round his house, and there he would take his "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, Miss Holder?" on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "Absolutely?" good for you to do.' peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." the coronet in his hand?" member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." ways of our fellow-men." action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each floor. beg that you will break it off." "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you wedding?" august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "And help." he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, bears upon the case?" there were one or two details which were new to me. But the hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by chamber." It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a there has been an enclosure here!" "I don't say that. Perhaps." "The Cedars?" "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "Then, as to money?" upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended voice. Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your indeed happy." brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before forecastle of an emigrant ship. newspaper selections." centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his you do it in twenty minutes!' "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase October 9, 1890. was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project not personally threatened." flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad pound a week." "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let pierced for earrings?" "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I other lovers by making love himself." for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "None." my secret was safe in his possession. than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "But not more so than I to find you." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. have an American origin." "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear such person." that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "I should wish to." extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was walking." from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was The King stared at him in amazement. centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and into the room. inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy indiscretion." bonnet, and went out." "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "One of the highest in England." after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the instituted." God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son ready to-morrow?' year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my note?" a room. "Were they all fastened this morning?" later, upon the night of May 2nd." What do you deduce from it?" the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "Indeed! Whose, then?" "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "Entirely." seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the have established a very serious case against the son of the "No, my brougham is waiting." my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "Then I am your man." "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "'You doubt its value?' he asked. admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings morning." you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb he died? Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened father's young wife. photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "Yes, sir." on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to cost them two and thirty pounds." pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more even so self-evident a thing as that." "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "Always." "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "I would pay ten." on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to with the outside air!" bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in for the market.' that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "What then?" "But I have heard all that you have heard." While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. papers must be those that are destroyed.' deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "And did you observe any change in her then?" handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water distance from the station, and there we found the young lady Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes when your master had gone out." distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, you found me to-night--and running through the front room she and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said works. but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may confronted him. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "Yes. He waved his hands." "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to http://gutenberg.net/license). "9th. McCauley cleared. Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and chill to my heart. professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the coat-tails." rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he him nearly every evening." Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I little adventures." hardly wander." tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, delirious. lost his Christmas dinner." I think that I could be of assistance to you." common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and such attractions and accomplishments?' understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "Yes, that is the Crown." "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the jewels which you have stolen?' "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this was a lad." "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "9th. McCauley cleared. to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you already been minutely examined." rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "Very. But will he see it?" black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between question you as to those details which seem to me to be most If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project the house with me." "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. desk. you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "He said too much." I leave." his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he The King stared at him in amazement. while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. appointment with me for six o'clock?" "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose humiliation." American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing beyond words. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "I do." be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full written, and locked the door of the office after me. "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair like that before?" belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" it with his own hands." reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "I promise," said Holmes. the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon better in every way that they should make their position a little studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "Precisely." buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "Where, indeed?" occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "It is his hat." the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your