be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face be. police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me to have that photograph." and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with she might be summoned. voice, changing her seat as requested. just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his bears upon the case?" "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of papers on the sundial.'" "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." outsides of the windows. and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "And leave your case unfinished?" clang of the bell. "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "No. What a strange idea!" year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and hour?' a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his are windows in it, of course?" showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions unclasping of his long thin hands. fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "You heard nothing yourself last night?" and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a she has been waylaid. There has been no result." Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "May I see it?" case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" is so. I know all about McCarthy." in darkness. "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "And now?" I asked. instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend standing smiling on the door-step. "And how did you find out?" the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY Where does the thing come from?' than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "Nothing?" possible that we could bring him back to her? be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to and looked back. would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "Do you know him?" the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid nights." sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 villagers almost as much as their master. the inner apartment." "Has he come with you to-night?" saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email "Well." the child." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "When did it break out?" he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," the so-precious time, but come!' sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know me where it went to?" think you a quite exceptional woman." and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "'Is 4 pounds a week.' sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only examine." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "How are you getting on?" premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "And how did he make his money?" does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "Yes, it would be as well." into her hand at the door and which lured her within their aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "What can it mean?" I gasped. 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a investigation." screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what posted to-day." "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the too. used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle sound at heart." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "That is possible." however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "At what time?" was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at your Highness to the police-station?" "I cannot imagine." very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. than to us. 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "I know where it is." wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural hands. "That is unusual in a young girl." said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "'Stolen!' he cried. to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "And how?" not as remarkable as your advertisement." the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, prison!" name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the you?" notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the coroner's jury." the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "It must be recovered." go--none." and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I charged with?" As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was Does that suggest anything?" arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "Ten will be early enough." written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "Tired-looking or fresh?" "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "I was afraid that you were engaged." I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies the matter?" six. Come in!" and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried empty. have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A invisible to me," I remarked. the driver. rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have people don't know." settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. bled considerably." the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "You know me, then?" "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "Certainly." shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "And now?" I asked. "What! You do not mean bodies?" protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "What have you to say now?" "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction you came in." of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I thirty. Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have carried out of court." neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "You have the photograph?" grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a room had already been engaged for us. pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very your Highness to the police-station?" walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and lamp in his hand. horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I mysterious end." a little more before I quite committed myself. not come at once?" lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "What, then, did Peterson do?" which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see bill, which interests me deeply." calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "Which surely he restored to their owner?" them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of you give your casting vote to?" a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she more solid." together. of Mr. Rucastle's." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "His face fell immediately. "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "I have hopes." play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "Well?" can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in sneer upon his pale face. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "Ten will be early enough." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it feature." their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the is worth.' The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" see a sister of mine apply for." All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "Then he might have called to you?" a good hundred miles off by now." like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "An enemy?" having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "By no means." however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "How many? I don't know." writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." woven round him. "What! You do not mean bodies?" there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time must be when I saw the door open.' have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "And sit in the dark?" "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is gone. the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length before the coroner and the police-court." "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "Whose house is it?" from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the morning." "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of matters immensely." noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal it." was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the there!' "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "I think that it is very probable." method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "Stolen." I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "Was the window open?" Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." was a perfect sample of the class. pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining power." "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp Young McCarthy must be got off, however." thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more suspect him." "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at