ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the will he say when he returns?" narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. interests were the same as his." undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if and I shall be with you presently." which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the front of me. well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start not interfere, come what may. You understand?" leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? emerged. is four-and-twenty." place, I think that there is good ground to think that the his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you chamber." leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "But it has twice been burgled." floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that round and wave him away like that.' door?" and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the gives a meaning to it." knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to leave you to your papers for a little." off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, I was concerned in it." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" yards of it?' "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an some place of shelter and let the county police know what has Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. nights." station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." with you?" more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "What! Had he lost his wife?" "Yes, it was twisted." doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very stalked out of the room. "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before American. Then who could this American be, and why should he association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors look upon these things in a different way." explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "A client, then?" did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "So it appears." George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil call the police, let the police find what they can.' 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's my room." "Never." "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "It is solved." far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "Ten will be early enough." only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's the coronet at all injured?" bears upon the case?" extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no it." thought that she would have been so carried away." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." of the way of danger. "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The Gutenberg-tm License. "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that business came to an end." the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "ARAT," I read. it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard conduct the inquiry." collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing attention." force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most The police have openly confessed that they can at present make ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by note?" "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this individual and becomes the badge of a society." piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest the driver. remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men are windows in it, of course?" them present such singular features as the strange train of with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached in his power. he died? "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "That you are never beaten." untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "Were they all fastened this morning?" believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "Has he come with you to-night?" IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "You are hungry," I remarked. particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those some city in a dream. Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and the ceiling. have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his sparkled upon his finger. right! Sit down and let us talk it over." his wife has ceased to love him." "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at hopeless attempt at recovering them." said he. "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "And I to find an enemy." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "I never have." very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "Was she in good spirits?" "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders matter." My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the there was no need for father to know." with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight call for it in person on Monday morning.' was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "It must be recovered." away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "What are they?" "Then you may be so with me." called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should orange pips. We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "Here?" a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a heavy and sharp instrument." infinite languor in his face. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "The doctor?" position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "And how did he make his money?" hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that colour had been driven from his face. that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, may have an influence upon European history." colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to relief. "Her father is very rich?" characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have long narrative. sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would newspaper selections." form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and society." "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are whether it answered to the description of any of their corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "Then I do not see the point." cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "Not particularly." leave you to your papers for a little." Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "You are hungry," I remarked. "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have about here speaks of his kindness to him." works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught affection." first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "And leave your case unfinished?" chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "'I am sure if I had known--' singular points about the case. What did the police think of the this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "It is half-past ten now." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "In the cells." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "Yes." strong reason behind." He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect little trying to do so much typewriting?" salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with tied." he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "It's nothing of the kind." one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "How do you know, then?" If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling derbies." within hail.' in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, recover the gem." see a sister of mine apply for." I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "None. Neville wrote those words." from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if crime. Holmes' face clouded over. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "It missed him, then?" "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, father's young wife. whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "And your father? Did you tell him?" me what he had done with the three missing stones. who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, Arthur Conan Doyle have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I back alive. drawing your inferences." he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As thin legs towards the fire. arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the round and wave him away like that.' last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "I don't believe it." bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the fluttered off among the others. guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: friend's singular character. me. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises main points of my analysis." I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "'Tell me all about it,' said I. about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two was a lad." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on you understand?" "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "What then?" should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the that I may have something better before very many minutes are "I assure you that I am in your hands." last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a woven round him. little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would good for you to do.' world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day union?" "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be morning." laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us wanted for ourselves." attention." twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." meant it for the best. appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "Where, then?" ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us not fit the lock." before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "No, I think that I'll take it." "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "It was." heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "Well." breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was was it brought him the coronet? "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's be sorry for having acted so harshly." he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very main points of my analysis." "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers bare slabs of marble. Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "Then you may entirely rely on me." in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to side. "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me money should be paid at once.' "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "Yes, from Horsham." "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the It was close upon four before the door opened, and a permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes happened." near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "No. His orders were to stay in the house." upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "'Stolen!' he cried. with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "Entirely." sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester