am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "There are none." "Witness: Nothing definite. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had interests were the same as his." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. behind me. which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, little trying to do so much typewriting?" had formerly been in part my own. were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this get the tickets." of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came he bowed and left the room without another word. somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "So it appears." envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled believe that I should never have any practice at all. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who the best of training." only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were rooms." profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one that you saw all that I did." doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I bachelor.' left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "Entirely." Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third which was all perfectly true. for the market.' "None." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "It is half-past ten now." of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "That is easily got." "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "Not yet." which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" closing the door. Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions said Mr. Holder. believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where been anything against him. He had for years been known as a I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "Tired-looking or fresh?" Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing at a side door. Miss Holder?" "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "Murdered?" for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building respectable self." keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the read it out to me." on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a unkempt, staring out at me. on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "Did your wife hear all this?" returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New desk. of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor highly," said Holmes. passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "'What would be the hours?' I asked. one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "What office?" With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. and I shall be with you presently." as he remarks, very much against the son." until night should bring an explanation. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. Does that suggest anything?" which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring Holmes' face clouded over. "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, thought that she would have been so carried away." matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that God! What an exposure! What can I do?" stood on the top of it. simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "My last client of the sort was a king." "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing any little problem which you may submit to me." Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event himself. Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. the King without delay." The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that "It is a murder, then?" centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel should be so warm over such a trifle." "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "I will get her to show me." so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening this Miss Turner." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "Was there a secret marriage?" pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something would then never go into court at all." you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of where we are going." night.' said he. would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of October 9, 1890. sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "Stolen." inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a desk. "Why did you pick him?" half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the the child." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, allusion to a rat. been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in away to you." Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "But how?" A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." not within a twentieth part of the market price." beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It acquaintance?" to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first burst out into a roar of laughter. maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "Yes." 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "But you can know nothing of this?" "Come in!" said Holmes. "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his good-night and bustled off upon her way. reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "It is true that I have been generally successful." "No legal papers or certificates?" still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to there in twenty minutes." ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which The King stared at him in amazement. in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" was already answered. continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "Yes, all." put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this in his power. accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "'Certainly,' I answered. front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, over his head with a sweet womanly caress. near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "No, I think that I'll take it." his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson singular points about the case. What did the police think of the upon the sideboard." slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, gigantic client. character. "'Entirely.' the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower key of the affair now." of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "We were both in the photograph." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are existence." for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a wedding?" front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the Miss Holder?" really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "He slept on the premises." pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the direction." "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the neither fascinating nor artistic." all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I crowd. place of silver." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the and looked back. Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "From his hat?" the warnings." "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you served to weaken the effect. "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two bachelor.' "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "What will you say?" have had none more fantastic than this." placed his cuttings. "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs the best of training." conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of which it had come upon my father." the Assizes." father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the British peeress.'" game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "A greater distance to travel." "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His cost them two and thirty pounds." "Yes, certainly." has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, husband's writing, madam." "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have voice. roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two redistribution. "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon writing, and yet I know it well." politicians who had been sent down from the North. everything which you would wish to know." I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated his knees, staring into the fire. of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" directly by questioning you." have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, front of the hall door has given its name to the place. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money comes from the middle window." Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "Then the page we have seen--" And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "'Stolen!' he cried. on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "My photograph." triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "I am armed." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to ventilator." "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "I answered that I had not. connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." at a side door. thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination been able to understand it, in a very few words. transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been depend upon your compliance." "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "It is possible." find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "What do you mean?" reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and disappearance of these gems?" about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of which was all perfectly true. will be renamed. warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." the one as in the other." and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "Bought." to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "How did he come?" outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "Always." granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "Then I am your man." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' drove away. simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "That is also quite modern," said the lady. while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the tightly behind him. the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows 'please.'" is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. pictures, libraries, or plate. "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I do.' "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a