The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "It goes to the housekeeper's room." Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for garden below. recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "'Where to?' "I was afraid that you were engaged." approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "You saw the ventilator, too?" "Texas, I think." suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. out." accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," trifles." drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. be sorry for having acted so harshly." soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "Murdered?" misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in becomes even more simple." Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "Who was the criminal, then?" the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and despair." occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "'Oh, no.' floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "By train from Waterloo." our word." stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "An enemy?" deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "But he might be a bachelor." and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. his fortune, and I went back to pa. "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into sparkled upon his finger. detective. Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid were unconscious?" should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more direction." Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "Yes, there are nearly always some there." again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would correct than the official force." "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the situation." "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some of it with the greatest attention. going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the beyond words. "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked perplexity from it to my illustrious client. to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised sparkled upon his finger. Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here 1.E.9. really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as words came to my lips. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "How did you deduce the select?" one else, I think." This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an tapping his fingers upon the table. should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I in his hands." ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; yet." Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated question. which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "And now?" He raised his hand. corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "You know me, then?" you." it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "Pray do so." and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into all that?" "You have carte blanche." anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "I see many objections to any such theory." were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." like gravel from a pit.' "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said been deceived." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, have one." "'It is locked up,' I answered. places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "One of his hands." freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white again on its way. instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, showing my impatience. "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "I am following you closely," I answered. at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his outside." I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "The vanishing of the lady." we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, and have this put in the evening papers." to miss it." "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something Holmes' room. wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left I am not easy in my mind about them." "That is unusual in a young girl." 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless outside. have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "We must sit without light. He would see it through the He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "My own seal." "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting "No, I had a dozen." between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of experiences." a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as to talk it over. imbecility!" he cried. tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "They are typewritten," I remarked. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The pity, because in other respects you would really have done very forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had front of me. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock Gutenberg-tm License. have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the even of instruction." follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "What, then?" first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very take the flies, but not before." brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "You saw the ventilator, too?" we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside and the whole place is in a blaze." looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." knowledge of the world." "It is true that I have been generally successful." introspective fashion. of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of best detective that ever lived. "I should like to see him very much." seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "But I am all in the dark." could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such again." 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger them?" wanted for ourselves." now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past III. the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "Yes, sir." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "ARAT," I read. dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "You are hungry," I remarked. morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "The doctor?" know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be presume?" We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "Ah!" doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," of it with the greatest attention. if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? matter." of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, there!' all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I train from Paddington which would bring you there at about what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and the Assizes." repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is been." and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "That also I could fathom." them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried strong reason behind." sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I of it with the greatest attention. Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. tell them apart.' "The Cedars?" steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of whole matter to your consideration." this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the on in his house." "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "We have tried and failed." "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a are windows in it, of course?" would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in must be when I saw the door open.' "'I am sure if I had known--' "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "Nor running a chance of arrest?" For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "Pray do so." gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "But how did you gain them?" as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "Eh? What was that?" sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I skylight. again before evening." Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all three of the beryls in it, was missing. case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed I shall continue with my miserable story. woman." Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. tell me that you intended to go into harness." hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made particular state visit http://pglaf.org strength in the others." the address that was given us in the advertisement. through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been voice. sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." cost them two and thirty pounds." The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he power." I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "Perhaps we may make them less so." "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "'Is 4 pounds a week.' play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed outside. "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in front of the hall door has given its name to the place. it. in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "On the contrary, this is the right side." "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting jewels which you have stolen?' no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "I cannot imagine." jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been was it brought him the coronet? roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the