"Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it my little problems." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "In which, sir?" exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that washing it down with a long draught of water. "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "'Certainly not. But why?' home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, assist you in forming an opinion." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "And now?" I asked. isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own village inn over there?" before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have up this clue while it is still hot." or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "Yes, only one." strong reason behind." see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to will he say when he returns?" play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "'What do you call purely nominal?' bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but some place of shelter and let the county police know what has it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical said he. name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "How do you know, then?" to some other building. bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but pound a week." Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. tassel actually lying upon the pillow. little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have what these perils are?" makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the that, and I came down." The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and of it with the greatest attention. having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "'And the work?' the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of it. gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking been shamefully used." hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, villagers almost as much as their master. amused." "I fear not." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "Just look it up, then." business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and works. that?' and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "I cannot think." tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' about. which are rolled in Rotterdam." "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "Yes?" or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. geese which you supplied to the Alpha." knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be legal crime." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "What then?" no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "I was sure that I might rely on you." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem outsides of the windows. equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "Yes." making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "But of what society?" ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt bedroom door." and effective." the south-west, I see." "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" she might be summoned. "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm present." done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "No." mystery may be cleared along those lines." photograph?" Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, cause to be." to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "About a month then." four million human beings all jostling each other within the "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "'There is a drive, then?' "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "'No, I know no one in these parts.' Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so ventilator." a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a to affect your life." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic the bed, and you in that chair." of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off and the colonel ushered me in. upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question Holmes' thin, eager face. burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while this truth that in these little records of our cases which you I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, of the way of danger. result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "No." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a in my life." wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman voice. accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up long narrative. the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases golden eyeglasses. "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a with you alone." home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the Count Von Kramm." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." here and I will read it to you: discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if bell. Holmes whistled. and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is the driver. hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than at once, for I have only half an hour." company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an feature." short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they was it brought him the coronet? coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was me where it went to?" coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." whole matter to your consideration." "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "On the contrary, this is the right side." dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. room?" marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other voice. unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "Well." "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock cigar and let me expound." "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "I see many objections to any such theory." "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "The gentleman I describe." he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than speckled band?" "I see no marks." it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that along the entire front of the house, with three long windows small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until not personally threatened." to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of neither fascinating nor artistic." girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, The summons was a brief and urgent one. some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I from the brougham. struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking recall any case within my experience which looked at the first bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a murdered man." call for it in person on Monday morning.' could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned disappearance of these gems?" here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and absolutely follow my advice in every respect." eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "Always." leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic to a light-house. "No?" astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a father's place of business?" "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That his face. infinite languor in his face. There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by entirely devoid of interest." and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, very peculiar words of the dying woman?" and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped and shall probably return to London by the evening train." my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned burst out into a roar of laughter. latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My chambers. would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to me have 200 pounds?' Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "You are all wrong." place of silver." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an this as likely?" its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the guilty one." "How did you deduce the select?" desk. headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both down from London to inquire more deeply into it." with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in bird of prey. It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And ourselves in the office." locked. He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "Yes." at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and he bowed and left the room without another word. assist you in forming an opinion." a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try such attractions and accomplishments?' bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "That is not always so easy." her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so in his hands." The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I orange pips. "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "'As governess?' "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A the best of training." Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "But who is he?" that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only guilty parties." dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "Your presence might be invaluable." "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low sake, don't!" "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, invisible to me," I remarked. "How many? I don't know." point our research must commence, and we will begin it by as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most legal crime." isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against was the fact that his father should, according to his account, and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work copied or distributed: his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he on re-entering her father's house?" "Well, it is a possible supposition." autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon followed. broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a