"There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of the one as in the other." "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her Henry Baker is a member." manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel fuss that is made over them." derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "His face fell immediately. methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be disturbance in my wife." Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than nonsense.' too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" to a light-house. follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I any little problem which you may submit to me." Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." respectable self." "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "Then I shall certainly come." without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "No, thank goodness, she did not." lectures into a series of tales." either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "Ample." however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "Ha! you find it so?" papers diligently of late, have you not?" "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You keep the flames under. roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw she slowly sank and died without having recovered her half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round it means?" "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, villagers almost as much as their master. laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "Never." here." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had easy-going way." you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "Then, how do you know?" ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a dear old homesteads?" down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been tail." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I pressing in one house as in another. far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who suspect him." insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a you." "'What do you call purely nominal?' law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned as yours." a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "Tired-looking or fresh?" upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "You'll never persuade me to believe that." Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "It is possible." where we are going." "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he there!' dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty the so-precious time, but come!' more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands room?" husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit get her out of the way." and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "She will not sell." moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, bears upon the case?" came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He back alive. shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her sofa. This way, please!" is entirely a question of barometric pressure." sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' obstinate." coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son The King stared at him in amazement. with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." Gutenberg-tm License. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, one or two very singular points about this room. For example, fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, note?" "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. question," said Holmes, smiling. charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "Never to return." house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, ill-usage at the hands of fortune. extraordinary contortions. "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, behind me. quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "Whose house is it?" narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "Only as much as we can deduce." very morning of my second wedding." of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this Sutherland. compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." thirty. could not have written that. It is the German who is so my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his any more." Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. your Highness to the police-station?" "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. third from London." "No." open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "This photograph!" state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small to change my dress. until night should bring an explanation. answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "But not more so than I to find you." sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "'What then?' I asked. difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem any little problem which you may submit to me." valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We works. "I cannot tell." more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "I cannot imagine." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "And how?" grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are bonnet, and went out." yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "'I am sure that I do not know.' purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "'What do you call purely nominal?' ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "I have come for advice." much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of in this note: think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled James Windibank. Voilà tout!" not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards His name is Francis Prosper." brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "That is unusual in a young girl." "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which to surprise her." "I should like to see him very much." tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "May I see it?" to arrive at through this?" expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." yards of it?' "Yes, I have one waiting." chair. saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was leave you to your papers for a little." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, upon the sideboard." "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, presume?" equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His of his shoulders. was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then things are very often connected not with the larger but with the on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked noble correspondent could be. grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and unprecedented a position." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "Which surely he restored to their owner?" wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a looking up at the numbers of the houses." collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon face and glided from the room. great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "So I am. Very much so." "Certainly, madam." absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid the coroner come to?" finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "I know where it is." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "I never have." skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the himself to hunt down. Sutherland. fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "And sit in the dark?" Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The better grown goose." room?" the south-west, I see." "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "No, I am descending." "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It introspective fashion. "A thing like a cleaver," said he. I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no impression behind it as though a window had gently closed said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "Very murderous indeed." "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a hour." evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment there in twenty minutes." you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of you in yours." "Who by?" served to weaken the effect. covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. against a man in the prime of life?" him and tried to hold him back. crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he do.' of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, records." compunction about shooting them down." array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "9th. McCauley cleared. outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "It's nothing of the kind." Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, definite end. fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a round and wave him away like that.' criminal. We have already had experience of such." one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean October 9, 1890. "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. mystery." the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "I see no marks." against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "Yes, at the mines." felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had like that before?" rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I families. Now for the facts. "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. then?" If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. your co-operation." words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "But she will refuse." opportunities to fix the problem. "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every me. from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between