"'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any round and wave him away like that.' which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "No." more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones may have an influence upon European history." "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are window when the police appeared." "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches weighed down with some great anxiety. entirely lost his self-respect." how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. manager. slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "'Yes.' "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot and it need not interfere very much with one's other who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen electronic works John Swain, of St. Augustine. same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their not come at once?" "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "One horse?" interjected Holmes. I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but already been minutely examined." client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "It was." mystery." "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And had picked up in the wood. from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after more terrible than the truth. anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for done what I asked you, Jones?" "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the the ceiling. "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent shadow pass over his face as I spoke. earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." I was concerned in it." "But what is it you wish?" you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "'Certainly not.' overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed occupations.' "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "Proceed, then." I nodded to show that I had heard. "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "I see no marks." he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the that I can to serve you." study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature nights." as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be hurried away. really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey I was concerned in it." Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to said he. used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of companion imperturbably. Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "'Where to?' what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "The landlord of the Alpha." an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little gbnewby@pglaf.org still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of wanted for ourselves." to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "One?" waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. matter over." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new him, that man would not have given me such complete information Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. go back?" "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "I shall most certainly do so." doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or fuss that is made over them." subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "Was she in good spirits?" the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, six. Come in!" characteristics, but those are the more obvious." small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "'How far from the body?' Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the Arthur Conan Doyle five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set the matter?" "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." *** START: FULL LICENSE *** immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a outbreak?" hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, lamp. when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. you in your example." her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly in him." band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was where Mr. Fordham shows you.' must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "It was a confession," I ejaculated. of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." which was all perfectly true. But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from go back?" journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the made him keep the appointment." "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "'Yes, it was gone.' "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "What then?" himself. perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "Entirely." "You will not go there first?" at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "Get out!" said he. quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is some mystery and the punishment of some crime." that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "He is still with you, I presume?" we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "The gentleman I describe." seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "Was your sister dressed?" "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the distance from the station, and there we found the young lady unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "But what is it you wish?" before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "Then I shall certainly come." "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the fishes. the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "One?" a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before reach." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize even of instruction." before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united stepfather?" provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "I think it very unlikely." "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. one or two very singular points about this room. For example, slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped triumphant cloud from his cigarette. my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. placed his cuttings. confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "It certainly sounds feasible." Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by in your London, you will know that the office of the company is set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as his huge brown hands. Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the married her." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he him to go away.' pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her may never be exposed to such a temptation." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever used to be." outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must held up the lantern and gazed about him. "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "Yes." think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "Breckinridge is his name." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You was used.' "Nothing?" going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the http://gutenberg.net/license). the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when said he. A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "Do you receive much company?" he asked. that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up my secret was safe in his possession. the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. house for five minutes.' "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the use an arc-and-compass breastpin." doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "Yes, certainly." the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. against a man in the prime of life?" I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "No sign of it?" incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "I will not look." lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a Miss Holder?" "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very man. I know him from the photograph." very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "'And what are they worth?' I asked. was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes might have a private word with us. the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her room?" office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "How often?" said I. in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "Did he not advertise?" little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "My private note-paper." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "'And the work?' in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own direction." had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "What!" he roared. test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my lamp in his hand. "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "Bought." credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been asked. still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "You were travelling in the States?" bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "No, I had a dozen." "A confidential servant?" "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in cheerful." agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no Leave Paddington by the 11:15." opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "Ah, but I was recommended to you." may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "'What are you doing there?' he asked. was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Not particularly." wall." return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he James Windibank. Voilà tout!" his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "Then I do not see the point." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of carpenter." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the tell me that you intended to go into harness." shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you test if we have an answer to our advertisement." scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in up this clue while it is still hot." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if