empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend into the room. "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and back into the street. "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy like that before?" laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, point in the dark hollow of his hand. unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "You horrify me!" fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "Your sister is dead, then?" my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "Well, it is a possible supposition." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town copied or distributed: overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "When did she vanish, then?" headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord followed. if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we papers on the sundial.'" that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover posted to-day." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." fat-encircled eyes. about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the know that the truth is known." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his married her." Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "On Monday." your Highness to the police-station?" "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. Munro.' "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "I came to find a friend." - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some do you make of it all?" soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping direction." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke door?" I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "And your father? Did you tell him?" "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate a few minutes he said that it would be all right. money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the detective. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "A confidential servant?" and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. hurried away. more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I his forehead." then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "Oh, fresh and glossy." off." estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress been anything against him. He had for years been known as a Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. this truth that in these little records of our cases which you the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "That is it on the dressing-table." Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "Do you know him?" adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "No good news?" bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties do you make of it all?" there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the Farm upon the left." stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. shadow pass over his face as I spoke. this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is to Leatherhead. information in his hands the value of which he did not himself tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "Why, what do you mean?" departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is chair. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "Your presence might be invaluable." mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own in him." "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and criminal. We have already had experience of such." "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself place of silver." adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "Upon what point?" dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. man. "In answer to an advertisement." "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing His smile broadened. train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which shaken than I had ever seen him. to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "Absolutely none." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. present strange and interesting features that it is no easy Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. the best of training." other lovers by making love himself." "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. business." has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "At half-wages, in fact." "Always." again." by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "But it has twice been burgled." saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in garden below. force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging outside. the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "Then you may entirely rely on me." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank of this gang." "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass there in twenty minutes." Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "And is that all?" Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very fasten all the windows?" the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to cigars in their mouths. thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in lips." statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "On the contrary, this is the right side." facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "BALLARAT." of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of once more for Briony Lodge. way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest prisoner's face. broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "'Then let me do so?' "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name do." as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "'Is 4 pounds a week.' the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet the night.' was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "I saw her in conversation with her maid." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding felt the room to be a little close.' of it with the greatest attention. "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the about. "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could outside." "I shall most certainly do so." I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "I beg pardon." caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice mysterious business." be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "Then I can wait in the next room." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "My Mary? Impossible!" "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would distance from the station, and there we found the young lady gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "Why, what do you mean?" swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. status with the IRS. "Who by?" "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "Absolutely?" the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual already been minutely examined." unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? goes." nights." with some details as to your case." "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in experiences." firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable case-book, which he consulted. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, the morning and make my own way in the world.' little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand bachelor.' "Pray do so." "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done once more to my work. look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think unprecedented a position." possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps do.' served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "Then the page we have seen--" process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of me have 200 pounds?' you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." writers could invent nothing more crude." looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "So I heard. You have him here?" "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you me." foot. lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of back into the street. quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning than was visible to me." window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "But he might be a bachelor." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about towards the blaze. "'You cannot say what it was?' letters?" "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through train.' "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had depend upon my doing so.' A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "Why, it's a dummy," said he. Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to crackling voice. over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom enough to aid us in our search." so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "But you were on a friendly footing?" a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which enter into my head. face and glided from the room. quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others paper in the air. Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I records." nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "He said too much." occurred." It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. I have it here in my museum." was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" very morning of my second wedding." Pope's Court. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, you want, then?' "I don't believe it." Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a undoubtedly my uncle's." outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to