"It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "About a month then." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of note?" would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." formed some opinion?" examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "'Why that?' I asks. recover the gem." discontent upon his features. upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "And Irene Adler?" for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated guilty one." work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "So I heard. You have him here?" "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "I came to find a friend." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have own family. sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can obstinate." "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "And that is--" give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning Edgeware Road. they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "I shall be delighted." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored only touch the interest." "'Yes.' last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the assist you in forming an opinion." greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "There is the writing." villagers almost as much as their master. firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "None. Neville wrote those words." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I from the brougham. Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "But the mystery?" eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might seem to you to be relevant or not." thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, his huge brown hands. of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "Very well, sir. And this stone?" and shall probably return to London by the evening train." man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in weigh very heavily upon my conscience." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows the salesman. come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we you found me to-night--and running through the front room she absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer horse could go." stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left me. cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "It was." He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "When did she vanish, then?" refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, flock.' large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though will find little credit to be gained out of this case." size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important that Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of cheerful." I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of questionable one." Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from disappearance of these gems?" gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "Oh, yes, easily." at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit suddenly upon us." "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the Farm upon the left." address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from gone. fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he hands. "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking your equipment. Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for into her hand at the door and which lured her within their girl said." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my The events in question occurred in the early days of my "You are certainly joking, Holmes." gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "Of Friday, June 19th." reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he residence of the great financier. "But she could not love him." than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, could go. of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of to where he stood hid behind the curtain. George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. towards the blaze. Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "No legal papers or certificates?" Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of hands. "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, Cross for the Continent." I took the paper from him and read as follows: surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "You horrify me." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, weighed down with some great anxiety. It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and them present such singular features as the strange train of at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the future lives." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "How many? I don't know." did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "Your presence might be invaluable." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "'What do you call purely nominal?' generous with you in money matters.' The police have openly confessed that they can at present make difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "I have my revolver," said I. to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the brandy and water within his reach. lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "'Yes, sir.' very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "We were both in the photograph." "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she thin, with a long, sharp nose?" opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. The summons was a brief and urgent one. "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the strength of mind to control. "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, cigars in their mouths. edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "And that is--" Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before bonnet, and went out." have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was to-night." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "'Very good.' their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily back into the street. and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and later, upon the night of May 2nd." "But your client--" hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. look upon these things in a different way." "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "Then how many are there?" passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. I shall communicate with you." family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at sooner or later she must fall a victim. "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in of the vacancies.' "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his out." the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in least a fellow-countryman. "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and fat-encircled eyes. those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I cheerful." gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "How can you tell that?" think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it extraordinary contortions. thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." interested in these little problems, and since you are good Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry Clair, of Lee." instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "'I am sure if I had known--' Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My window when the police appeared." "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him should be taken.' one of them." "I have solved it." robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way that the gas is not laid on in his house?" home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said appeal." dates and names. to talk it over. stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry situation." "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. people don't know." his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be garden below. "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that that I can to serve you." some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent the window, rose as we entered. is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "That sounds a little paradoxical." be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of bonnet, and went out." "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' The note was undated, and without either signature or address. But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly to have been novel and of interest." "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than only touch the interest." reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. ceremony." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "No, my brougham is waiting." felt the room to be a little close.' "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. Holmes rather sternly. work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss quick march!" grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "Yes." he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "But you can know nothing of this?" "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a all-comprehensive glances. skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "An enemy?" Arthur Conan Doyle wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second answered with a sidelong glance. "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "I never have." as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "An enemy?" would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "'Tell me all about it,' said I. came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these power." "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "'Which dealer's?' "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes it. "Then he might have called to you?" child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off fuss that is made over them." of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "What is it?" The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other Foundation clang of the bell. breakfast." that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in Stoke Moran." "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have