together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. to where he stood hid behind the curtain. rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined row." hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "Yes." watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his Cross for the Continent." "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the instincts rose up against that laugh. conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then my special province." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "Nothing?" trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "And Irene Adler?" and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who Does that suggest anything?" very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "Tired-looking or fresh?" a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "She showed me, as I told you she would." 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "Not in the least." "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "What! You do not mean bodies?" I. months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "I have my revolver," said I. and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "I am in hopes that she does." when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' the station." "Yes." gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in never to learn it at all." "What can it mean?" I gasped. had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster London for the present?" air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his learned something! Where are the gems?" "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as it. "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "He slept on the premises." remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable with her." lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure least a fellow-countryman. 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent the coronet in his hands?" "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an upon the shelf for the interim." however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a to tackle the facts." see a sister of mine apply for." (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "How often?" there." "The rest you will leave in our hands." purpose of examination. allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "The knees of his trousers." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper Sholtos." are, I think, all that we need." be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain or in danger--" "But how?" very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, too. did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "And sit in the dark?" evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly are, I think, all that we need." error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours not use it unless it is absolutely needed." not fit the lock." glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** them, and came down just as you departed. down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "Whose house is it?" the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "10th. John Swain cleared. I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, what I may call a really hard day's work." of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "'How far from the body?' wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "He disappeared so suddenly." that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "My dear Holmes!" "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, events, Mr. Windibank!" answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "Ah!" character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the his cane at the bell-pull. I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was awkward doing business with an alias." you came in." "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "But you have hopes?" the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all pressing in one house as in another. approach us with offers to donate. "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our the one as in the other." I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "Where, then, is my wife?" neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan strength." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich a few minutes he said that it would be all right. took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." followed. dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no letters?" call the police, let the police find what they can.' evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I purpose of examination. "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an despaired of." glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and tightly behind him. suspect him." dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it the morning and make my own way in the world.' confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried stalked out of the room. the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a purpose of examination. our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to and the church but not where the lady lived." side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to John Swain, of St. Augustine. assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "Yes, it would be as well." was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my of note-paper. It read in this fashion: to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "Never to return." occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." that you saw all that I did." way: enough to aid us in our search." a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official despaired of." after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day other means.' "One of the highest in England." "Nothing." occupations.' Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with and put his glass in his pocket. to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings sofa. This way, please!" me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the into her hand at the door and which lured her within their 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "It is a murder, then?" for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our fish-monger and a tide-waiter." case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "Was your sister dressed?" all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." may never be exposed to such a temptation." left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special less than 26s. 4d. them, and came down just as you departed. "There are none." the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, did not hear it also.' workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "Who by?" sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "And on what day did he meet his death?" to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty have established a very serious case against the son of the "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, carpenter." through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "But you can know nothing of this?" our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "I should wish to." Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, Farm upon the left." "Witness: It was. this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs at home. sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use you found me to-night--and running through the front room she state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an business." October 9, 1890. "Precisely." of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? trying to your nerves." can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "Not him." "I say it is." charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business plantation.' superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "Dirty?" who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the gone. "No." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "You horrify me." was used.' "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no desk. "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "My last client of the sort was a king." hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "By no means." whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the until night should bring an explanation. the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the garden below. a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "No more words. Get out!" very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "But how did you gain them?" Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she throat." "I should be immensely obliged to you." appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with been lifted and conveyed somewhere." system of imprisonment?" dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll which we had just quitted. the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it writers could invent nothing more crude." chemical work which was so dear to him. astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." it." vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one to some other building. I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion footfalls from the street. look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "What can it mean?" I gasped. moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. 'please.'" rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "No, I had a dozen." "My Mary? Impossible!" claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "To an end?" the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist to take care of herself." "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon long narrative. seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." said Mr. Holder. manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere which should have the effect of calling the attention of the whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and this truth that in these little records of our cases which you beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my forehead. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client bill, which interests me deeply." "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet little trying to do so much typewriting?" "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, already referred to. a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "By no means." "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders