disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "She told me to ask you." ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and into the room. "Pray do so." civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "'A dozen yards or so.' "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, For additional contact information: "What then?" simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight own family. "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want Holmes' room. among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "And did you observe any change in her then?" one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United best detective that ever lived. widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. green of the new foliage. mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the come either from the window or the door. My attention was Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" whether it answered to the description of any of their your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his is," said he presently: likely to be some crony of the landlady's." folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish cigar and let me expound." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "Here?" disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" that he has suffered." story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the you found me to-night--and running through the front room she the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "But what harm can there be in that?" been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "How many? I don't know." through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our for the market.' present strange and interesting features that it is no easy tell me that you intended to go into harness." Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them may never be exposed to such a temptation." "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his chambers. me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature Holmes' thin, eager face. that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set appeared upon the scene." Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my about here speaks of his kindness to him." ourselves in the office." explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "Yes, only one." accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "My dear Holmes!" to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "And what did you learn from him?" you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as examine." but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the eat it." "It was a confession," I ejaculated. She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately in one or two places in England?' frequently gained my first real insight into the character of the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "'Very good.' "I think that I had better go, Holmes." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the upon the sideboard." "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced at my remark. "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my in his power. takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still prepare for the new role I have to play." "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to seem to you to be relevant or not." You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "9th. McCauley cleared. she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's records." them?" "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, interests were the same as his." "Of what?" with you alone." arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal bell. Holmes whistled. the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last horse could go." "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah to-night." present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the which it had come upon my father." not use it unless it is absolutely needed." Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small are, and they are waiting for us." because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are situation." Young McCarthy must be got off, however." the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "Indeed! Whose, then?" deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "None." "My stepfather's business papers." mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with strength." for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me States. "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern the running down." a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' photograph?" standing smiling on the door-step. "Yes, I have one waiting." the armchair which I pushed forward for him. along the entire front of the house, with three long windows He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and are windows in it, of course?" point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what arrested. You then--" said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us once more for Briony Lodge. "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just at a side door. outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "From his hat?" reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a into the bag, and made for the door. no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive the matter." tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had case before our client came into the room." "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn crime." true." "You have it, sir, just as it happened." practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your to Leatherhead. "How did that help you?" "Have you her photograph?" strength of mind to control. do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." The note was undated, and without either signature or address. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, for securing the situation." man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "We must sit without light. He would see it through the and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "When did it break out?" grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be occurred." in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope individual and becomes the badge of a society." although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "I fear not." "Never to return." thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." points in connection with it which never have been, and probably grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed question. I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic thirty. savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an them?" you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this ready to-morrow?' fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "'Not at all. I only doubt--' would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the noble correspondent could be. cup of tea. table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a Sholtos." "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "And your mother is alive?" your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our fire. You quite follow me?" forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and redistribution. Pope's Court. for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has digesting their breakfasts at home." "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips tassel actually lying upon the pillow. The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "You don't mind breaking the law?" harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would do." Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the compunction about shooting them down." is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to or other trace. But how on earth--" "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "'Certainly not.' pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be in the hope of finding them." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." see me here to avoid scandal." "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the success. simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each problems help me to do so." "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." things are very often connected not with the larger but with the leave you to your papers for a little." moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "'Not at all. I only doubt--' heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of with the outside air!" learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. happened." you came in." the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "'Yes, sir.' who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two within hail.' satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in she has been waylaid. There has been no result." colour had been driven from his face. believe that I should never have any practice at all. Gutenberg-tm License. and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "Yes." permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, your most interesting statement." "'About the same.' the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have coroner's jury." he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not straighten it?" profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her Holmes' face clouded over. slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without handed it to him. "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a Heh?' the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, him!" transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." was already answered. and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in became a certainty. met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "What is it?" son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an house for five minutes.' cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. but preventing her from injuring another. Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." writer." "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a pictures, libraries, or plate. about here speaks of his kindness to him." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns country, and eventually married, without anyone having a importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think knowledge of the world." had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the golden eyeglasses. with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement little adventures." "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "That sounds a little paradoxical." unclasping of his long thin hands. to talk it over. admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "'Never.' to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "Where, then, is my wife?" "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "Now, then, what's the last entry?" a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." Heh?' as noiselessly as she had come. envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend