wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "It may not come to that," said Holmes. hopeless attempt at recovering them." "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "Ten will be early enough." finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic allusion to a rat. all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "What shall I do?" little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, I nodded again. constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "'No, I know no one in these parts.' shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a bird of prey. "No good news?" "Why did you beat the pavement?" along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. direction." and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we me. "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and his wife has ceased to love him." inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think tell them apart.' "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' taking in every detail of the apartment. "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "By no means." planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked the address that was given us in the advertisement. which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." corner of the building. "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will tassel actually lying upon the pillow. would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police there were one or two details which were new to me. But the lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "Quite so." "What office?" room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to straightened it out again. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from any." end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "I am following you closely," I answered. the matter?" http://gutenberg.net/license). "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so perplexity from it to my illustrious client. impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' morning." Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether wedding?" anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "This photograph!" has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a visitors." The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that something of him before." clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life be best to do. of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "Have you her photograph?" leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a more solid." wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, that he has suffered." "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "What do you mean?" essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and more terrible than the truth. "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of persecution?" upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, upon the white wrist. "On Monday." It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would fait accompli?" back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to his wife has ceased to love him." Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "10th. John Swain cleared. when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined into her hand at the door and which lured her within their companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "Pray continue your narrative." never will be, entirely cleared up. already been minutely examined." with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "I should wish to." at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of begun to whiten, even as mine has." between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "Absolutely?" bird of prey. the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "How can you tell that?" from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door followed. very morning of my second wedding." "They are typewritten," I remarked. "On the contrary, this is the right side." will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "Very murderous indeed." came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "I have a cab outside." Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a begun to whiten, even as mine has." of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "Precisely." "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "I think it very unlikely." threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her you." "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be fluttered off among the others. it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen this Miss Turner." There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to was lame." were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I could gather together that I was able to avert another public I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came or other trace. But how on earth--" slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "What shall I do?" "And what then?" "You know me, then?" I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that meanly of me." broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the his fortune, and I went back to pa. the night.' gbnewby@pglaf.org "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds Pool. It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a felt the room to be a little close.' him to go away.' the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in himself to hunt down. murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not neither fascinating nor artistic." shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society has little to do with my story." "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "It is no ordinary one." thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely the morning and make my own way in the world.' October 9, 1890. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now this as likely?" "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless for its centre. then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to attention." Heh?' "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom lost his Christmas dinner." grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "You have compromised yourself seriously." lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for one or two very singular points about this room. For example, he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A to-night." broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "So it appears." the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "May I see it?" might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." the side-table." I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will so.' he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "The knees of his trousers." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "Stolen, then." "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by mystery!" but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, nights." were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "Entirely." How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "He said too much." and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "On Monday." deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. of your young ladies.' introspective fashion. should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "But I am all in the dark." introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. it." made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "Game for a morning drive?" "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "The King of Scandinavia." "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, Cross for the Continent." them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "Yes." knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. voice. then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' anything to a woman, for she would have her way." went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary over with notes and figures. because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, instituted." should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I closely." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then sparkled upon his finger. little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some the bed, and you in that chair." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a stepfather?" and inquire as to the address." "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of and I shall be with you presently." the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "It is possible." something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was straighten it?" the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his depend upon your compliance." the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where and laid it on the table. for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "Yes, sir." mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "'And what are they worth?' I asked. Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming anything to do with the matter?" "Never." papers on the sundial.'" the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy me have 200 pounds?' brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may and it need not interfere very much with one's other "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "Nothing?" which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, just ask you whether you had heard it.' himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. stood on the top of it. still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "Yes." leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "Precisely." of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back