which we had just quitted. all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It gbnewby@pglaf.org vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "No, I had a dozen." "From his hat?" old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "'I am sure that I do not know.' am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do crackling voice. his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and had picked up in the wood. spare." "Absolutely none." game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but I took the paper from him and read as follows: signal between you and your father? "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' have had none more fantastic than this." "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that triumphant cloud from his cigarette. and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was passage and a tap at the door. are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods in one or two places in England?' be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the Eyford." "The landlord of the Alpha." tassel actually lying upon the pillow. your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." I took the paper from him and read as follows: takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "I was afraid that you were engaged." good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to believe that I should never have any practice at all. "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "But we can't all be." one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "It was an hour's good drive." Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so the one as in the other." purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "Which are?" Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have questionable one." obstinate." "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass future lives." It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have answered with a sidelong glance. return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" guilty parties." visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and conversation I have gathered that they have been married about that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some sit on the left-hand side of the driver." over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by than to us. very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the off." reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "I don't say that. Perhaps." life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six walking." broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I definite end. society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in them?" chamber." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "Yes, sir." and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; not, dad?" she asked. "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what good for you to do.' with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "Yes." not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "And how?" advice." "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "But she will refuse." hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no crowd. ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "Yes, I have one waiting." of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you of note-paper. It read in this fashion: fish-monger and a tide-waiter." bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "Look there!" said he. Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "Witness: I must still refuse. for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "But what will you do?" "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "Dr. Becher's." father's young wife. house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is helping a boy to put up the shutters. "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first I was concerned in it." 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "'Never,' said I. compunction about shooting them down." used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and should be so warm over such a trifle." introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "'Oh, no.' do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "The rest you will leave in our hands." much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to I was concerned in it." "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "Murdered?" "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in she has been waylaid. There has been no result." money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "But how could you guess what the motive was?" I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm recover the gem." borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "Well, some hundreds of times." "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have again before evening." somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend his knees, staring into the fire. in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would upon the sideboard." visitors." "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "Who by?" "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. to affect your life." him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "And how did you verify them?" we went to search for him, face downward in a little "What can it mean?" I gasped. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "No. What a strange idea!" have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "Why? What do you mean?" "I never have." interest. They are important, you understand, without being direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too foresight and the moral retrogression?" said he. "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "A thing like a cleaver," said he. particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those be.' "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his matter over." her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do that?' "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his there were so many in the whole country as were brought together morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" whether it answered to the description of any of their to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and tightly behind him. "What will you say?" there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that him." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which I held the little printed slip to the light. "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or the night.' having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of Street. although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "The knees of his trousers." and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "I don't say that. Perhaps." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "'Is purely nominal.' enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the returned to France?" from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "'I am sure that I do not know.' one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "You are certainly joking, Holmes." for securing the situation." no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" The police have openly confessed that they can at present make and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to followed. I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "I should be immensely obliged to you." "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a imbecility!" he cried. kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from presume?" "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of that you wished to speak to me?' story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you the King without delay." "No, finished." see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem pictures, libraries, or plate. Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." appeal." seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which one which it was hard to resist. "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since round and wave him away like that.' is a common subject for conversation. "I think it very unlikely." my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who lamp in his hand. chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." soul! here is her carriage at the door." which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and down in his armchair and closing his eyes. Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood coat-tails." indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' he bowed and left the room without another word. with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "Very well, sir. And this stone?" into the bag, and made for the door. George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, rooms." once more for Briony Lodge. discontent upon his features. I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a certainly not very gracious." "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "Where is it, then?" grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his Project Gutenberg-tm works. fire. You quite follow me?" glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my chance at all." strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "We have tried and failed." at home. "What shall I do?" this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but examination of the premises, but without finding anything which could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "What can it mean?" I gasped. a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was and glanced through. "It is solved." such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture to tackle the facts." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I