greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which the room while you explain this matter?" and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst said he. "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "'Then let me do so?' I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "Game for a morning drive?" him." Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "Your French gold?" which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her noble correspondent could be. "And how in the world did you find them?" original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more figure." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and less than 26s. 4d. whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "But you would not advise me to refuse?" hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. the coronet in his hands?" case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "Why did you beat the pavement?" silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, conceal it?" suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "But what is it you wish?" could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with pressing in one house as in another. of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose compunction about shooting them down." knowledge of the world." "Not yet." highroad, where all traces were lost. crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving locked." "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "There is the writing." "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering late!' opened the door, and slipped through. "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "No, I had a dozen." "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For horse could go." travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The ourselves in the office." down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "How do you know, then?" he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good IS "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "You forget that I know nothing about it." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "That was it, sir." the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United certainly do as you advise." address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of answer." "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been away into the river." hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as cigar and let me expound." protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the me." "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." a little more before I quite committed myself. his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "Yes, only one." "And that is--" (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all possible that we could bring him back to her? "I cannot think." It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "What I expected to see." centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we laugh and put his lips to my ear. smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy front of the hall door has given its name to the place. may never be exposed to such a temptation." from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "Where, then, is my wife?" same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately me where it went to?" face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have flock.' the station." "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "To ruin me." "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "I should be immensely obliged to you." lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I outsides of the windows. here." go from here to the Strand." the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "I say that I have solved it." heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "You have but to name it." Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is papers on the sundial.'" "Certainly, madam." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the in one or two places in England?' commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between spare." grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly you." - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater asked. of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, cigars in the box." any more." test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "But we can't all be." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all there were so many in the whole country as were brought together above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "One?" anything to do with the matter?" down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "I say that I have solved it." surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must green of the new foliage. your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was You can understand that this register and diary may implicate Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a were wasted." the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of present strange and interesting features that it is no easy have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you Surrey." "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "Then I can wait in the next room." chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I fuss that is made over them." promised to bring home. Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my bore every mark of being an average commonplace British about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "Yes." and laid it on the table. a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" purpose equally well?" frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "And why?" Holmes' room. printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate other lovers by making love himself." "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "It is true that I have been generally successful." wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to sake, don't!" Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "Her father is very rich?" likely to be some crony of the landlady's." Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he are windows in it, of course?" and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark to-morrow." thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' been lifted and conveyed somewhere." I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "We were both in the photograph." seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "Yes, I have one waiting." Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "Certainly." and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his carpenter." my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any whole matter to your consideration." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of when your master had gone out." would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an upon the white wrist. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "Not in a good cause." "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "It missed him, then?" make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove Dr. Gregory B. Newby the matter." past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door himself in a perplexing position. "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my locked. after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "Yes, all." then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident During two years I have had three consultations and one small "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the meanly of me." knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand his wife has ceased to love him." three fields round his house, and there he would take his man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his It was close upon four before the door opened, and a 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and was not a bird to be seen there. other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "But you have hopes?" taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "Dark enough and sinister enough." things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "I cannot tell." deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after in his hands." have been better. It is all right." what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your see me here to avoid scandal." "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "Absolutely?" evidence," I remarked. arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at the coroner come to?" have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. and laid it on the table. list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, this unhappy family?" constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. desk. concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "Yes." his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature own family. mysterious end." been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "Dr. Becher's." strode off upon his way. "9th. McCauley cleared. learned something! Where are the gems?" lectures into a series of tales." stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then little adventures." into her hand at the door and which lured her within their it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would laugh and put his lips to my ear. "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." that I am arrested." "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "I shall be delighted." "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." Count Von Kramm." would apply.' this truth that in these little records of our cases which you our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "But I am all in the dark." he died? Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "Where, then?" could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said The events in question occurred in the early days of my was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." to that open window." "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you were unconscious?" bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "And did you observe any change in her then?" "He is still with you, I presume?" "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. outside. of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully a monotonous occupation." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. of." "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your appointment with me for six o'clock?" than was visible to me." place no limit on the sum I may draw." "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing chair. "I have my revolver," said I.