slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "Was he the only applicant?" individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of is," said he presently: ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened might help us?" he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of redistribution. they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with gone. with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to was it brought him the coronet? Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been my little problems." "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "What! You do not mean bodies?" "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "Frequently." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the was not a bird to be seen there. the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has the armchair which I pushed forward for him. 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his least a fellow-countryman. of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully retorted upon me, and I on you." The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, touch that coronet?' there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "He slept on the premises." two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a roused himself from his reverie. provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. derbies." sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's to miss it." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "Pray let us have it, for all that." "What do you mean?" upon the white wrist. which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you the Red-headed League." master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "No, my brougham is waiting." even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich tapping his fingers upon the table. A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, electronic works and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On four million human beings all jostling each other within the One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "But how will you look?" circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted off." Pool. him." cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "No, distinctly professional." came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, papers must be those that are destroyed.' very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both McCarthy." though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out seem to you to be relevant or not." this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I off." address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was beg that you will break it off." at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of the general public were present, then?" see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since that you can jump it.' Countess of Morcar's?" "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. status with the IRS. of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "And help." being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "You did not overhear what they said?" drawing your inferences." "I shall be delighted." mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the II. eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "The vanishing of the lady." "Certainly." "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud me. serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "What will you say?" "Of what day?" well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of eat it." town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked memory. caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. morning." a little more before I quite committed myself. the house with me." "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we Doctor, of the paper and the date." ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there at my remark. them?" reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "And how have you succeeded?" a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and eat it." burst into a hearty fit of laughter. which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was and glanced through. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and companion quietly. It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, chill to my heart. "No." "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. whether it answered to the description of any of their records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that the inquest, and which are worth considering." prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up Sholtos." closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "This photograph!" ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "And your father? Did you tell him?" hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "Who was the criminal, then?" though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "Nearly eleven." public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the miles off. held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the him!" had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend it means?" "Yes, there are nearly always some there." wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are always that they were such commands as a lady might with and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always to tackle the facts." doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his as he remarks, very much against the son." would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there ways including including checks, online payments and credit card self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "It is a murder, then?" "Have you her photograph?" customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure to-night's adventure." cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come his forehead." one which it was hard to resist. with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "Where is it, then?" "But the mystery?" allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which call for protection in the marriage market, for the present down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which ceremony." to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin excitement. "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" business?" "Yes." "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "Was there a secret marriage?" I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the pictures, libraries, or plate. "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "How long did she speak to this Alice?" the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who joking. and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "It was a confession," I ejaculated. deduce something from that?" to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "I will get her to show me." Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a went to the Alpha were town bred." "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." in darkness. "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret if I call to-morrow?" For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own lumber-room." "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "You saw the ventilator, too?" The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "You have but to name it." self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "How many? I don't know." really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS of a light. "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. yards of it?' eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for enter into my head. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "Precisely so. But how--" conclusions. "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a pound a week." hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day Lee, in the county of Kent." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done to tackle the facts." newspaper selections." room. chill to my heart. headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he John Swain, of St. Augustine. minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. grasp, he hurried from the room. as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside shaken than I had ever seen him. happened." walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular is worth.' "Then I can wait in the next room." been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, without success. At last the little money which I had saved began fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though all that?" sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what