still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "Pray do so." "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to children over to America with him, so that I found myself without had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time in my life." "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "A call for help, you thought?" drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock is four-and-twenty." Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the were wasted." the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of fish-monger and a tide-waiter." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could definite end. that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' Doctor, of the paper and the date." "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a himself in a perplexing position. Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, guilty one." Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "The murder was done with it." stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely to-night." moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the that threaten you." foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him where Mr. Fordham shows you.' have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "From his hat?" does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. awaited us upon the table. workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and derbies." where she found matters as described by the last witness. once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "And what then?" "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, eat it." quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "Just look it up, then." As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "I have seen the police." hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "You have the photograph?" mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of which we had just quitted. assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place recall any case within my experience which looked at the first typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if be best to do. "Ah!" about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have bell. Holmes whistled. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. opportunities to fix the problem. "Well." bird of prey. his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both that I may have something better before very many minutes are but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "And I say east," said my patient. "None. Neville wrote those words." drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in rooms." could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal I was concerned in it." I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable Leave Paddington by the 11:15." the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. Sholtos." doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "Not particularly." There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "On the contrary, this is the right side." together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his room had already been engaged for us. attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At bird of prey. she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "He is still with you, I presume?" was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible straightened it out again. "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle the very morning of the wedding." in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "And Irene Adler?" thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working to go into your room and bar your shutters?" License. You must require such a user to return or not within a twentieth part of the market price." God! What an exposure! What can I do?" good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "And the cigar-holder?" entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, husband's writing, madam." charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from with the outside air!" flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I which our visitor detailed to us. watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "Get out!" said he. "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble away to you." fasten all the windows?" Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "No, but the enclosure is." spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and for its centre. and put his glass in his pocket. were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of the date of his supposed suicide." "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, matter over." are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "You have but to name it." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You intimate personal affairs in this public manner." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall believe that I should never have any practice at all. collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm my friend's incisive reasoning. souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "What steps will you take?" I asked. money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "We must have a cab." the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down as the one I chose?' The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a fish-monger and a tide-waiter." I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so questionable one." the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that made him keep the appointment." drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "But she could not love him." "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught returned to France?" air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind of the efforts of the United States government and of the better best detective that ever lived. sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his Pope's Court, Fleet Street." if she died from some sudden fright." keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "9th. McCauley cleared. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, some mystery and the punishment of some crime." Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which stalked out of the room. concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "'Yes.' "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has memory. "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "Precisely." from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this over here." thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. very old mansion. analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "His face fell immediately. centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the appeared upon the scene." decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity gbnewby@pglaf.org "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you fait accompli?" "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a Mrs. Toller serenely. it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the your co-operation." however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning the child." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was approach us with offers to donate. Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon the general public were present, then?" woman." the matter?" possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to woman." "It was an hour's good drive." "Where, then, is my wife?" the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "My dear Holmes!" hurried by. the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may all-comprehensive glances. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." prison!" he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it upon the white wrist. his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging upon the white wrist. that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "Certainly." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "'Not at all. I only doubt--' entirely lost his self-respect." murdered man." "No, I think that I'll take it." you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel now. It seems that there had been some informality about their it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see right! Sit down and let us talk it over." my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour was feeling which was the fattest.' particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "'What do you call purely nominal?' yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his tied." one or two very singular points about this room. For example, said I. foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of pound a week." affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few friend's singular character. "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the good-night and bustled off upon her way. "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after you in yours." look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. persecution?" six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "Certainly." "Yes." "Yes, only one." To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking said Mr. Holder. and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "What, then?" Mrs. Toller serenely. "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the