as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had breakfast?" about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just business matters.' door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the like gravel from a pit.' "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "Not in a good cause." spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. notes," he said. in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "One of the highest in England." 'please.'" few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you disappearance of the bride.'" not within a twentieth part of the market price." "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" had died away into the silence from which it rose. from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the is four-and-twenty." "My dear Holmes!" "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety hopeless attempt at recovering them." coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. Farm upon the left." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had third from London." "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "'You cannot say what it was?' "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "How often?" she to prove their authenticity?" the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your 1.F. seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged reach." office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of out of this horrible affair." business." "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very His name is Francis Prosper." arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "'I have already given you my word.' "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He upon the sideboard." "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy upon the sideboard." noise which awoke you from your sleep?" knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. felt the room to be a little close.' That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "How did you trace it, then?" You can understand that this register and diary may implicate convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "And now?" He raised his hand. Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "And how did you find out?" was already answered. Gutenberg-tm License. to that open window." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "Get out!" said he. until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I little trying to do so much typewriting?" "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few not, dad?" she asked. in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "Nothing?" journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "Then I can wait in the next room." of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than learned something! Where are the gems?" very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the fat-encircled eyes. stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at trying to your nerves." nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "No." "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "'And the work?' peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "What shall I do?" girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "Eh? What was that?" there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly foresight and the moral retrogression?" the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was in this note: "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "Nor running a chance of arrest?" doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I the loss of it. "Breckinridge is his name." London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out one else, I think." chemical work which was so dear to him. "Not I." instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "And now?" I asked. of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "And what then?" "My own seal." set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men matter." foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." which was all perfectly true. of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried exactly what you advise." these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "Whose house is it?" him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom forehead. a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but to surprise her." "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted my room." "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "It is his hat." was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The I nodded to show that I had heard. quick march!" and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. occurred." inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. think, you have already met." them present such singular features as the strange train of "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "Yes. He waved his hands." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, be sorry for having acted so harshly." "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird some water from a caraffe. Does that suggest anything?" profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a foot. maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who papers on the sundial.'" the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' to-morrow." stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "What! You do not mean bodies?" minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "Not I." from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "'How far from the body?' reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I ready to-morrow?' morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "I have a cab outside." others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an about. authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men get her out of the way." dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look been." recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man confronted him. "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, lectures into a series of tales." of the way of danger. had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little the loss of it. "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. true." street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what swore that no one else had been in the front room during the considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "I answered that I had not. "I think that it is very probable." extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up to tell." explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "But your client--" relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "You were travelling in the States?" something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "How about poison?" "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "About a month then." "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside for securing the situation." I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "You did not overhear what they said?" like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "I will do it." individual and becomes the badge of a society." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who too. can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "And on what day did he meet his death?" he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal better grown goose." was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off I was concerned in it." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending the dangers which encompass me." your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should had formerly been in part my own. directly by questioning you." "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. You can understand that this register and diary may implicate middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "But you can know nothing of this?" little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps weapon." "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. new acquaintance to Baker Street. with her." paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that one which it was hard to resist. never came back." those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have examine." deduce something from that?" suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "I assure you that I am in your hands." "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "And now?" I asked. when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my Eyford." for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens served to weaken the effect. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we had died away into the silence from which it rose. writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." existence." "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." you?" rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "And I say east," said my patient. "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "It is his hat." British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the here." The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "Ten will be early enough." pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. of it with the greatest attention. came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "In what way?" asked Holmes. confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "Bought." top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master to have that photograph." until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "Did your wife hear all this?" "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to them?" has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she relief. "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for be there in time for your coming." likely to be some crony of the landlady's." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own hard-headed British jury." "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a