had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' was keenly on my guard against him. "The doctor?" social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man side. exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen information in his hands the value of which he did not himself mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "He said too much." been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has goes." finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon the bottom.' for securing the situation." beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my locked." ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "Your French gold?" waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year photograph?" to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a any." And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "How can you tell that?" natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. me upon any point which I do not make clear." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to following enigmatical notices: yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "Really! You surprise me." it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my woman." "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' vague figure huddled up in the darkness. blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were distinguish the words: room?" since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "'Entirely.' which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the voice. "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "What can it mean?" I gasped. patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss the salesman. impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "Where, indeed?" "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very Sholtos." corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "You have compromised yourself seriously." hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest was once confined in the cab my mission was practically to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for speckled band?" test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "My opinion is in no way altered." not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "Who was the criminal, then?" pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "It was a confession," I ejaculated. are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "Ah!" continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." my former friend and companion. American. Then who could this American be, and why should he Edgeware Road. vault. Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "And what then?" them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew of his shoulders. very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, stalked out of the room. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty and no precautions can guard against." "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean tightly behind him. "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded there!' away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "But she will refuse." then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "I have a cab outside." more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he goes." hour?' I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. seen the man in the road." thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from help us in this matter." accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "My photograph." "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "That also I could fathom." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows prepare for the new role I have to play." fatally injured? young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set stalked out of the room. go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "It is very kind of you." "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would cigars in their mouths. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." golden eyeglasses. important." railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." would apply.' "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "10th. John Swain cleared. smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "At the wedding breakfast." "Never." instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported where Mr. Fordham shows you.' drawing your inferences." firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public point our research must commence, and we will begin it by works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love Count Von Kramm." photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery Surrey." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "The landlord of the Alpha." unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business better grown goose." which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper now. It seems that there had been some informality about their His name is Francis Prosper." sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique it." begun to whiten, even as mine has." and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "From his hat?" whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "What will you say?" the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a have I gained?" have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together unkempt, staring out at me. my friend's incisive reasoning. of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. once more on the important position which you have been fortunate my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of call for it in person on Monday morning.' quite distinctive." the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "But it has twice been burgled." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed villagers almost as much as their master. here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "Ah, but I was recommended to you." and shall probably return to London by the evening train." roused himself from his reverie. he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money photograph?" it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "Entirely." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "'Tell me all about it,' said I. the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "I shall be delighted." smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "I will, Miss Turner." the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. like that before?" and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "'Certainly not.' companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange train from Paddington which would bring you there at about boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "If so, much may have happened between." common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us For additional contact information: with you alone." Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "Have you her photograph?" brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring giving me time to thank him. visitors." some water from a caraffe. were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very questioning and rather startled gaze. of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was has little to do with my story." professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "Of what?" evidence," I remarked. better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I lamp in his hand. peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" dramatic, in fact." the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "I am to be neutral?" beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east up this clue while it is still hot." "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other Munro.' "'Very good.' who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." Sutherland?" suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just lectures into a series of tales." Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in fat-encircled eyes. to tackle the facts." may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "How did you trace it, then?" sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked redistribution. Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have copied or distributed: jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce are, and they are waiting for us." gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you asked. passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "I think it very unlikely." Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I the very morning of the wedding." Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, sit on the left-hand side of the driver." of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "But you were on a friendly footing?" deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys something of him before." were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing in this note: fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. direction." me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our key of the affair now." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the your troubles." familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door exactly what you advise." that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may