the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the acquaintance?" "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "'Is purely nominal.' Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared following enigmatical notices: implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "Who by?" furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my crime. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" nonsense.' a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is humiliation." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal My friend smiled. "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the the armchair which I pushed forward for him. mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue the salesman. "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "None." orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of criminal. We have already had experience of such." spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "If I can be of use." also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret of the vacancies.' "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that you?' "Will you go?" the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. But Holmes shook his head gravely. weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "Quite so. She has her freedom." "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in maid will bring up your coffee." "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was minor matters until to-morrow." time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "Stoke Moran?" said he. hardly wander." feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than chambers. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no he bowed and left the room without another word. showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" important." although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "Did he not advertise?" building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "You'll never persuade me to believe that." and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to less than 26s. 4d. I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." through." he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "Where, then, is my wife?" submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "And how?" "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." you." Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long British peeress.'" Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." information in his hands the value of which he did not himself fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "Yes, it would be as well." off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of the Red-headed League." "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a good for you to do.' stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "Ten will be early enough." little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her his knees, staring into the fire. pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he companion imperturbably. Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "No good news?" "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he very morning of my second wedding." with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "No, thank goodness, she did not." congenial hunt. "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "Did he not advertise?" to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "Yes." flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either the inquest, and which are worth considering." before, for it was considerably after midnight. which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "I have solved it." Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that of receipt of the work. "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "Yes." depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you as the one I chose?' and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts do." we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "Perhaps we may make them less so." fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "The murder was done with it." I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "'I have heard so.' furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it and files of the old papers, following the future career of every It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival matters immensely." key of the affair now." He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it his forehead." affair. "What will you say?" "In answer to an advertisement." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three investigation." minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy danger is over." 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, For additional contact information: license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no during which he might have communicated with his friend the your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point James Windibank. Voilà tout!" have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "What is it?" with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are heavy and sharp instrument." we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and way in everything. "But I have heard all that you have heard." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. have established a very serious case against the son of the where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "Perhaps we may make them less so." "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" works. to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "That is it on the dressing-table." "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "How often?" "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable may never be exposed to such a temptation." "'I have already given you my word.' weapon." remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "But to whom?" dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was should be so warm over such a trifle." perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the families. Now for the facts. suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "Yes, sir." where Mr. Fordham shows you.' station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." true." unprecedented a position." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a should be so warm over such a trifle." only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official impression behind it as though a window had gently closed he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." as noiselessly as she had come. it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in made him keep the appointment." 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." mystery may be cleared along those lines." Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm you in yours." time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read relation between them, and what the object of his repeated full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The politicians who had been sent down from the North. no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact prepare for the new role I have to play." "To an end?" "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the prisoner's face. was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "I saw her in conversation with her maid." roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "'Yes, I promise.' Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the I nodded again. down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. place no limit on the sum I may draw." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. States. depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to Eyford at 11:15.' every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." unclasping of his long thin hands. "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again the coronet at all injured?" always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him him to be an active member of the medical profession." "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project persecution?" "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the Eyford." real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. astonishment. through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker prisoner's face. course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "Breckinridge is his name." were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a sake, don't!" governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "So it appears." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "I see no marks." "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer ways of our fellow-men." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and