have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "Your French gold?" have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one and all of them with the keenest interest. ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an most interesting one." "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "Only as much as we can deduce." cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "And Miss Sutherland?" there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns and glanced through. brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important weapon." "No, thank goodness, she did not." "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest with her." "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the awkward doing business with an alias." all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided I think that I could be of assistance to you." season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, into the room. threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "My dear Holmes!" to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "At the wedding breakfast." practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest it." so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not it with his own hands." man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is British peeress.'" triumphant cloud from his cigarette. and effective." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "Frequently." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has to his chemical studies. Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a tell me that you intended to go into harness." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "None." "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of Sholtos." is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange know what is wrong with it.' "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An the window, rose as we entered. "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since hard-headed British jury." There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, weighed down with some great anxiety. was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle tightly behind him. the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a certainly not very gracious." commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "What shall I do?" in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "'I am sure if I had known--' green of the new foliage. did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy results." Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "And how have you succeeded?" appeal." the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he ceremony." time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried certainly not very gracious." permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "My private note-paper." excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "I will try. What is it?" train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "Your French gold?" vanished into the darkness. safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, to his chemical studies. "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is was a loud and authoritative tap. found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, companion. dates and names. lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "No legal papers or certificates?" "Yes, all." clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "If I can be of use." "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "And how?" "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "There is the writing." "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate clang of the bell. newspaper selections." "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home go back?" that I can to serve you." have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "What I expected to see." his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had of Fenchurch Street." attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer have an American origin." in your London, you will know that the office of the company is is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who that you saw all that I did." lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. indiscretion." which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical entirely lost his self-respect." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that and that he would see to anything that turned up. which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to sooner or later she must fall a victim. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but as this. Pray let me have the details." fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every forecastle of an emigrant ship. window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "What shall I do?" might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "At what time?" this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate said Mr. Holder. He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "BALLARAT." perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "I do." person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "I don't believe it." you give your casting vote to?" passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my stalked out of the room. "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "But you were on a friendly footing?" slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was later, upon the night of May 2nd." transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point the morning and make my own way in the world.' remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock promised to bring home. furiously. business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or newspaper selections." fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save of your young ladies.' "Because he was handy and would come cheap." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "Yes." daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was said he. "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little head. So long, then!" the Red-headed League." we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John disappearance of the bride.'" you came in." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." yourselves in at night?" sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' helping a boy to put up the shutters. constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot charge against him will break down." "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely he. allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very hour." say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her problems help me to do so." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in third from London." the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "But how did you gain them?" years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "How did he come?" points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "Pray do so." suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the The police have openly confessed that they can at present make found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "It came here." really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson true." "In the cells." certainly do as you advise." that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern cup of tea. what is your own theory as to what took place?" thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had Have you good authority for what you say?" But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working said I. She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended even so self-evident a thing as that." met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "I cannot as yet see any connection." William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "Very much so." "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to investigation." gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen colour had been driven from his face. "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met the bottom.' the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another voice. appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment room?" which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of It may be so in this case, also." schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no or in danger--" writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was McCarthy." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as Pope's Court. could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "And how did he make his money?" bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly most interesting one." stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in him to be an active member of the medical profession." subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "'Stolen!' he cried. interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "No, finished." "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and in him." can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "I saw her in conversation with her maid." such person." was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "And Miss Sutherland?" comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best Gutenberg-tm License. We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "I cannot say that I have." fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "Ha! you find it so?" "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason threw himself down with his face to the pillow. believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said upon the shelf for the interim." violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door least a fellow-countryman. "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "The gentleman I describe." which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the fatally injured? whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "VIOLET HUNTER." shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I that there was nothing in it, after all." the stones. over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about walking." Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An me. You must get home instantly and act." peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "In the cells." was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an more terrible than the truth. benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "Will you bet, then?" dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely