"Frankly, then, madam, I do not." Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by papers." assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "None." its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had for and were ordered to this address. the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the gone. to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the attention." "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom begin with, and I had not got mine yet." As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "'Never.' into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a taking in every detail of the apartment. "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it man. bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** burst into a hearty fit of laughter. to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "And how in the world did you find them?" who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his Leave Paddington by the 11:15." and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "We were both in the photograph." Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the client, rising. "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, all-comprehensive glances. on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." writing, and yet I know it well." with some details as to your case." bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do the stones. even so self-evident a thing as that." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you kind enough to tell me what I should do." "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with quite distinctive." bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long carried out of court." to affect your life." presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in crowd. come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through burst out into a roar of laughter. morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "'And what are they worth?' I asked. problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "Indeed! Whose, then?" slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he indeed happy." "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "Yes." The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his desk. question. here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a bedroom door." again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "It is his hat." "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "What will you say?" "Where is it, then?" to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "Yes, certainly." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers quickly through a disagreeable task. help us in this matter." "Certainly." confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you been anything against him. He had for years been known as a houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it on in his house." of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, gives a meaning to it." page at http://pglaf.org bird I ate is country bred." of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely manager. "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, hour?' Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "I have seen the police." provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the chambers. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "Ah, but I was recommended to you." he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in shall not find me ungrateful." greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "Entirely." league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little affection." "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. his cane at the bell-pull. "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "His face fell immediately. may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic weapon." "And Miss Sutherland?" "But what will you do?" "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which answered with a sidelong glance. "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one forebodings. face and glided from the room. a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock brandy and water within his reach. nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "Yes, there are nearly always some there." little adventures." and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "When did she vanish, then?" drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. all that?" up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. some terrible trap for her." "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." know all about it," he snarled. grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been speckled band?" present." several quiet little villages up there." They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "You heard nothing yourself last night?" neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I prove to be little relation between the different incidents of the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "Proceed, then." sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "And it is--" success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without I approached. dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you peculiar to him. "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But Doctor, of the paper and the date." derbies." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "Yes, there are nearly always some there." to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, noble correspondent could be. the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the that, and I came down." were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "Your French gold?" same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a he bowed and left the room without another word. Sutherland. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual was the fact that his father should, according to his account, unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted was a perfect sample of the class. the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "'I have heard so.' "Could he throw no light?" once more for Briony Lodge. run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as you understand?" Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you respectable self." "No. What a strange idea!" smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He conclusions. conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. for the market.' "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "Oh, yes, easily." rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "I guessed as much." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another humiliation." Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "When did she vanish, then?" outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive vanished into the darkness. "What are they?" leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, shoulder; "he's all right." the King without delay." could go. not within a twentieth part of the market price." "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest whatever might befall. "My Mary? Impossible!" reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might the south-west, I see." our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "Stolen." gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a digesting their breakfasts at home." "Just look it up, then." years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should seen the man in the road." "'Yes, sir.' India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "My opinion is in no way altered." "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over this truth that in these little records of our cases which you seven miles from Eyford Station.' affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "'Yes, it was gone.' the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked possible that we could bring him back to her? I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had in the port of London." do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more it means?" The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen shaken than I had ever seen him. stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they that?' hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I place, I think that there is good ground to think that the thought that she would have been so carried away." "I see no marks." the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist was lame." his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "'Not at all. I only doubt--' out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your ways including including checks, online payments and credit card understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting golden eyeglasses. all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the kind enough to tell me what I should do." of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. case before our client came into the room." "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "The landlord of the Alpha." bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting I. doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in of Mr. Rucastle's." Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and a good hundred miles off by now." "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my to have that photograph." the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "That is possible." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This "A confidential servant?" even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See any more." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it What do you deduce from it?" words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City morning." greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by question," said Holmes, smiling. fluttered off among the others. "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of was lame." "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "What office?" precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "I have come for advice." Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my