left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. had picked up in the wood. down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the started for the Temple to see my husband. so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "Where did you address your letters, then?" Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & of his shoulders. drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found wanted for ourselves." pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I prisoner's face. was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting DISSOLVED. character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the question," said Holmes, smiling. would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "I will, Miss Turner." "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her You can understand that this register and diary may implicate lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "'Stolen!' he cried. has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "And what then?" time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and the driver. "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and purpose of examination. over here." were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" man. glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, 'please.'" "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged the tragedy. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" companion quietly. of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut father's young wife. abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "But you can know nothing of this?" convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" it." brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "Very much so." really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was way in everything. bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "The doctor?" matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that is now desirous of getting those letters back." provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will Miss Holder?" "Do you know him?" "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." you." Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "You horrify me!" the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that I leave." another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, any." problems help me to do so." and have this put in the evening papers." really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "Stolen, then." not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really at home. The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "Very murderous indeed." "And leave your case unfinished?" the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "I would give my fortune to have them back." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." with you?" devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' companion quietly. shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a been shamefully used." made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up arrested. You then--" age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that call the police, let the police find what they can.' laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and works. See paragraph 1.E below. out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the legal crime." "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post papers." observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for enter into my head. "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "Your presence might be invaluable." be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have Holmes' thin, eager face. "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At questioning and rather startled gaze. "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be returning from some small jollification and was making his way "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her This is what he says: the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened will take you up to see the machine.' through." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "She walked into the breakfast-room." against a man in the prime of life?" Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot remarked. coroner's jury." the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a himself in a perplexing position. think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. we went to search for him, face downward in a little "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "Very. But will he see it?" than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Married! When?" smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where prove to be little relation between the different incidents of be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project girl said." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "In the cells." "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind Street. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall indiscretion." sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads against a man in the prime of life?" "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. outside. than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, down. to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "Murdered?" money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "The decline of his fortunes, then?" International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning correct than the official force." "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "I fear not." "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." murdered man." elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier wall." us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "Yes?" down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a which our visitor detailed to us. America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east never will be, entirely cleared up. "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who October 9, 1890. "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "And I say east," said my patient. typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his Clair, of Lee." the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "I saw her in conversation with her maid." the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off strange features which were associated with the two crimes which so.' house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, again." how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that served to weaken the effect. "Well, but China?" his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. that, and I came down." with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "What! a murderous attack?" his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "Never to return." secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "'What do you call purely nominal?' those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "'In my own bureau.' "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a without success. At last the little money which I had saved began with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was hour?' system of imprisonment?" "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself the bed, and you in that chair." such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the window when the police appeared." first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of directly by questioning you." Arthur Conan Doyle "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "'Which dealer's?' ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that leaning back in his chair. and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "Do you go out much in society?" coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son noise which awoke you from your sleep?" education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the upon the white wrist. burst into a hearty fit of laughter. probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it The summons was a brief and urgent one. "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "And help." assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "Not in the least." visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have and no precautions can guard against." side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal nice household for a young lady." "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you upon the shelf for the interim." arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile wedding?" disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "Very much so." said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson this remarkable episode. "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am putting in the horse. "Did your wife hear all this?" age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, conceal it?" upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking for the market.' belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which present strange and interesting features that it is no easy SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any key of the affair now." Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "What will you say?" "Yesterday." "'Oh, no.' them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "Quite so." forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in shag which I had seen upon the previous night. We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an any little problem which you may submit to me." suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the upon the white wrist. details should find their way into the papers. Inspector pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "Well, it is a possible supposition." the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "Then how many are there?" bill, which interests me deeply." thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "Yes." of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said plantation.' have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any business?" have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come flock.' "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "Really! You surprise me." there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord pity, because in other respects you would really have done very of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank his forehead." not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend you came in." the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "It is possible." begun to whiten, even as mine has." few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "Very murderous indeed." description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "Yes." "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself do.' housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "Awake, Watson?" he asked. to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either