ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch and it need not interfere very much with one's other "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "In San Francisco, a year ago." and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and the inner apartment." my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "You heard nothing yourself last night?" results." had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the delirious. no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the of it with the greatest attention. in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years anything to do with the matter?" my secret was safe in his possession. nothing of it?" lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "Was she in good spirits?" snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with means taking possession of that which another person has a prior seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I have been better. It is all right." rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "That is not always so easy." "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in interests were the same as his." sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord forecastle of an emigrant ship. "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure awkward doing business with an alias." "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that and glanced through. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." The note was undated, and without either signature or address. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over unclasping of his long thin hands. covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "If so, much may have happened between." order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but were wasted." lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what Miss Holder?" France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I back to my heart. "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some think that any burglar could have done. request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." felt?" widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" bird of prey. thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "Yes." she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a wall." way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between purpose of examination. "Perhaps I have." of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able the station." "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "Breckinridge is his name." "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your to miss it." friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "But you can know nothing of this?" suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "Two days later this same performance was gone through under considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could ways of our fellow-men." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient had picked up in the wood. every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported bed dies. Does not that strike you?" it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found a little more before I quite committed myself. arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can straighten it?" once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I generous with you in money matters.' "To ruin me." "They are typewritten," I remarked. across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "'Yes, I promise.' believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not and a shock of very red hair. pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. stepfather?" thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and brandy and water within his reach. has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the less than 26s. 4d. the inquest, and which are worth considering." to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which suddenly upon us." Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the of the vacancies.' reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though his huge brown hands. "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "Then what has happened to him?" my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "If I can be of use." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "I shall be delighted." down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "He might." screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was villagers almost as much as their master. and have this put in the evening papers." but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "What can you not understand?" the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "It was." misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out taking in every detail of the apartment. familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be here." fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush outside." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your the bed, and you in that chair." what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the lamp in his hand. his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he you, my dear young lady?' body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "What can you not understand?" terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into legal crime." the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two strong reason behind." fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the whatever might befall. suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "I was afraid that you were engaged." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "Ha! you find it so?" "No, but the enclosure is." that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw go back?" waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls that I can to serve you." "Dark enough and sinister enough." retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it companion imperturbably. came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler lips." "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with is entirely a question of barometric pressure." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "This photograph!" face and glided from the room. home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like my room." hopeless attempt at recovering them." "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew to Leatherhead. my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I in him." "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "One?" branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any II. He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "Why, what do you mean?" vanished into the darkness. struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to any more." open." have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little forecastle of an emigrant ship. clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the better in every way that they should make their position a little method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, before the coroner and the police-court." THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover retorted upon me, and I on you." Eyford." with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst of a light. had a long day." I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "And sit in the dark?" dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" answer." the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "What is it, then--a fire?" "But his left-handedness." and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and present." "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. again." and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "What I expected to see." customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "Thank you. And your address?" "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing to tell." are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "That sounds a little paradoxical." hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I future lives." pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not strength in the others." until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since was already answered. "Pray continue your narrative." rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." to-night?' watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "Yes." beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my several quiet little villages up there." you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was examine." everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "Whose house is it?" "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring helping a boy to put up the shutters. weapon." association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "Yes, but only for you and me." Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again laugh and put his lips to my ear. of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, Pope's Court, Fleet Street." the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in our word." Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened strong reason behind." been shamefully used." order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss purpose of examination. Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "I have hopes." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "Where, then, is my wife?" to his chemical studies. and looked back.