country, and eventually married, without anyone having a the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "Certainly." Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could my secret was safe in his possession. who was a member of your goose club." that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk entirely devoid of interest." second." civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "The gentleman I describe." Dr. Gregory B. Newby mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the made his money." to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon is entirely a question of barometric pressure." matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a your Highness to the police-station?" would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. in the port of London." his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. of it with the greatest attention. "If I can be of use." seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring village inn over there?" into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and distance from the station, and there we found the young lady We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, read over the extraordinary announcement. young Openshaw's." who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "I have come for advice." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be did not hear it also.' full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of point in the dark hollow of his hand. in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the was lame." week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room Holmes." "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of emerged. and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked point our research must commence, and we will begin it by at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the shoulder; "he's all right." "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and a good hundred miles off by now." "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very what is your own theory as to what took place?" Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible himself to hunt down. was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you Street. creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "You have a clue?" "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was will he say when he returns?" The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt It may be so in this case, also." To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "'A dozen yards or so.' "I say it is." fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "'What would be the hours?' I asked. this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "Yesterday." "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until of your young ladies.' "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting I was concerned in it." rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "And how?" events, Mr. Windibank!" chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "How did that help you?" "At what time?" would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the province." it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the which should have the effect of calling the attention of the He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he is entirely a question of barometric pressure." a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is the salesman. "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. useful material for showing traces. The double line a little in his hands." Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while acted in my house last night?" inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "'Where to?' "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." ill-usage at the hands of fortune. Project Gutenberg-tm works. be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. in this note: expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "'Where could I find him?' some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, upon the sideboard." "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "No bad?" Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master 1.E.9. heavy and sharp instrument." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a away to you." and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. plantation.' cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "Yes, from Horsham." "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. started for the Temple to see my husband. companion quietly. Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the my little problems." himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began about here speaks of his kindness to him." few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "I fear not." violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to time." again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" know all about it," he snarled. "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "Dirty?" which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. hard-headed British jury." these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for gone. that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER the bed, and you in that chair." elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and II. absolutely follow my advice in every respect." reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside had a long day." With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you a monotonous occupation." "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "But she could not love him." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "Nothing." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old entirely devoid of interest." green of the new foliage. present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." character. "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his "I assure you that I am in your hands." who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "It was." villagers almost as much as their master. when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "Not in a good cause." which it had come upon my father." heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note Watson," he said cordially. that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "Always." the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "You will not go there first?" with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the the house with me." "That also I could fathom." Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I particular state visit http://pglaf.org array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing without a word or a look. scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be presented which may be striking and bizarre without being roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "Ha! you find it so?" what do you think they found in the pockets?" entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself client, rising. read over the extraordinary announcement. should be so warm over such a trifle." "What, then?" away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. their singular warning or token before them when starting upon have got?" "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "At the wedding breakfast." "Imitated." Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "Dirty?" with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' that you wished to speak to me?' "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "Seven!" I answered. house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "Eh? What was that?" stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of he. horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said cause to be." "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made Count Von Kramm." without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still formed some opinion?" attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. that you saw all that I did." what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing Stoke Moran." said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "'Which dealer's?' "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. his knees, staring into the fire. Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the village inn over there?" more terrible than the truth. "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "'There is a drive, then?' these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "You have a clue?" word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, went to the Alpha were town bred." shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, even so self-evident a thing as that." before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and direction." 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "It came here." arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let to change my dress. Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ south, for the country is more deserted there." her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "Proceed, then." houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of at once, for I have only half an hour." a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. case before our client came into the room." the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "No, I think that I'll take it." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "Thank you. Pray proceed." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would shall not find me ungrateful." so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "Yesterday." experiences." a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "'Then let me do so?' "No, I think that I'll take it." James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards DISSOLVED. them present such singular features as the strange train of I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his