the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "The gentleman I describe." these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to putting in the horse. "'No, I know no one in these parts.' I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "The landlord of the Alpha." now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her side. expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the conclusions. "But we can't all be." drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "You are hungry," I remarked. state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "No, I am descending." including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "'And the work?' and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without or in danger--" "Well?" "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "But he might be a bachelor." "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "How did he come?" and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "Yes, only one." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "The gentleman I describe." hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. salesman. returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than since then to throw any light upon what became of him." very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the interested in these little problems, and since you are good up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up was used.' used to be." in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "But he might be a bachelor." "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid him and tried to hold him back. British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite seem to you to be relevant or not." thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "Was there a secret marriage?" lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility did not hear it also.' strong and stiff." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his other lovers by making love himself." "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "9th. McCauley cleared. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "No, my brougham is waiting." of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at bird of prey. even so self-evident a thing as that." "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to and a shock of very red hair. Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "What?" back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he impression behind it as though a window had gently closed with her." "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my pierced for earrings?" red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, acquaintance?" the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven affection." adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any really the only notable feature about the thing." chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the locked." there in twenty minutes." and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in to surprise her." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "The doctor?" waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time 1.F. rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "And what did you learn from him?" twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" three fields round his house, and there he would take his devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very The events in question occurred in the early days of my unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "I will do it." a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never presented more singular features than that which was associated of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his other, as fresh and trim as possible. entirely devoid of interest." "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for business matters.' envelope. I nodded again. chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in during which he might have communicated with his friend the "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of desk. her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, it." in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning interests were the same as his." may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "'Oh, no.' itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "So I am. Very much so." man. to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "And what did you see?" to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you indiscretion." the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "I beg pardon." coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it one which it was hard to resist. seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." most interesting one." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in have established a very serious case against the son of the "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. tell him that I know him to be innocent." "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a were wasted." that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his stepfather?" manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long me where it went to?" "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his information in his hands the value of which he did not himself error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is certainly do as you advise." providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. case-book, which he consulted. "The vanishing of the lady." "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning Lee, in the county of Kent." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "Then how many are there?" time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in little adventures." great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "Was the window open?" wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other pierced for earrings?" frequently gained my first real insight into the character of I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "Why did you pick him?" really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when strength in the others." listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "On Monday." that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "Where, then, is my wife?" run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more October 9, 1890. the window, rose as we entered. took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster this Miss Turner." suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent you?' out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been wedding?" in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "Get out!" said he. matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "Where, indeed?" the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations yet." "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this were new raised from a basin. Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "Breckinridge is his name." solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, your own bird, so if you wish--" widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an a room. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "An accident, I presume?" envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said village inn over there?" observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend to take care of herself." to take care of herself." to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "No more words. Get out!" people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old ready to-morrow?' the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head quick march!" her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to congratulate you again." "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to during which he might have communicated with his friend the "Where is it, then?" thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had when you have done it." "Only as much as we can deduce." front of me. endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "I will try. What is it?" no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have him." or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "And it is--" have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must stalked out of the room. suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate call for it in person on Monday morning.' test if we have an answer to our advertisement." little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming south, for the country is more deserted there." equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His status with the IRS. snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "I am to be neutral?" carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears that you saw all that I did." emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in at once, for I have only half an hour." return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very was keenly on my guard against him. There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to this remarkable episode. beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "That sounds a little paradoxical." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. IS demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, Dr. Gregory B. Newby through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in