thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my tightly behind him. ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to gigantic client. sit on the left-hand side of the driver." also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life he died? of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest himself to hunt down. particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and will be renamed. "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "But she will refuse." "I see no marks." "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his business?" look upon these things in a different way." Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "You are certainly joking, Holmes." common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just point our research must commence, and we will begin it by doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "We have tried and failed." night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "The best possible." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of him to be an active member of the medical profession." waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my the bottom.' pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "Pray tell us what has happened to you." while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, conduct the inquiry." delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "Witness: Nothing definite. been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. drawing your inferences." moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. happened." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without there has been an enclosure here!" Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "Well, some hundreds of times." schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed himself to tell his story. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You detained." assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "Yes, that is the Crown." "How can you tell that?" skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "'Ten to two.' which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently upon a handsome competence. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "Then I shall certainly come." the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself friend's singular character. play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "Whose house is it?" 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me situation." test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his that before taking the final step I should like to submit the corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, and have this put in the evening papers." the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock him to be an active member of the medical profession." been deceived." King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's wedding?" himself to hunt down. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some McCarthy." him!" bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." down in his armchair and closing his eyes. to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was highroad, where all traces were lost. his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to you do it in twenty minutes!' of." "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing back into the street. if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "Do you go out much in society?" in this note: "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into have I gained?" hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of threw himself down with his face to the pillow. and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing you?' walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "ARAT," I read. returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "Here?" into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, subject to the trademark license, especially commercial understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "I would pay ten." father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 what these perils are?" in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in will be renamed. "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "Then I can wait in the next room." "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, him to be an active member of the medical profession." "And sit in the dark?" "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "Was the window open?" master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the DISSOLVED. broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of bore every mark of being an average commonplace British however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. and files of the old papers, following the future career of every Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "That was it, sir." keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "But it has twice been burgled." so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as him, that man would not have given me such complete information course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and light and attacked it." only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "'Oh, no.' been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under DAMAGE. many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "He disappeared so suddenly." "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and the dangers which encompass me." ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. must be when I saw the door open.' "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "No, finished." "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "'And the work?' Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "And the cigar-holder?" having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not said I. was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "I will not look." smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I and glanced through. slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. tightly behind him. mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "Very much so." distance from the station, and there we found the young lady have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of did not hear it also.' and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable sake, don't!" While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "Yes." their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. know all about it," he snarled. like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "No good news?" so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and the window, rose as we entered. nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came families. Now for the facts. and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "Certainly." wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. sparkled upon his finger. I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which maid will bring up your coffee." is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the pound a week." Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' plantation.' country, and eventually married, without anyone having a 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "Yes." gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "Yes, at the mines." which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was like that before?" advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I were unconscious?" letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice new acquaintance to Baker Street. spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the call the police, let the police find what they can.' "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been again." me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "Come in!" said Holmes. been anything against him. He had for years been known as a neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "Will you bet, then?" of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt his face. by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. occurred." "It's nothing of the kind." "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "What will you say?" fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "This photograph!" vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "And why?" photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "'Not at all. I only doubt--' separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if at a side door. the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom you?" been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "The gentleman I describe." "Yes." I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "But he might be a bachelor." as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "We have tried and failed." near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to Lee, in the county of Kent." very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "I have a cab outside." Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. disappearance of the bride.'" make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "You think so, too?" train.' The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as gone. accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, for its centre. lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "'How far from the body?' "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland asked. am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "If I can be of use." all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place this as likely?" "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, than to us. Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "It is a murder, then?" than was visible to me." could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, I leave." helping a boy to put up the shutters. like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "When did it break out?" "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the salesman. "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked good-night and bustled off upon her way. For additional contact information: written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "She will not sell." it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my the south-west, I see." "Absolutely?" it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "He disappeared so suddenly." neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping papers." nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "No legal papers or certificates?" came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "Which surely he restored to their owner?" matter." "That is also quite modern," said the lady. paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "If I can be of use." "Perhaps I have." Street. time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, the very morning of the wedding." reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror.