(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." developed." sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her the station." the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the mystery may be cleared along those lines." Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He Leave Paddington by the 11:15." seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for IS can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "You have compromised yourself seriously." liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "'Which dealer's?' have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "BALLARAT." same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very crime." "And the murderer?" Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money second window is the one that I jumped from." know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "You are certainly joking, Holmes." Stoke Moran." outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into have not had my rubber." front of me. him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy me what he had done with the three missing stones. side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "It certainly sounds feasible." the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "I beg pardon." jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "He might." turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried the so-precious time, but come!' floor. aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At if she died from some sudden fright." to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which may have an influence upon European history." pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "I think that it is very probable." trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. in one or two places in England?' finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to if she died from some sudden fright." 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." even so self-evident a thing as that." him nearly every evening." office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly wedding?" nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "And what did you see?" determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" occurred." "Yes. He waved his hands." us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "You will not go there first?" "She will not sell." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "What then?" perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of IS impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress It may be so in this case, also." rat could hardly pass through." disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers that there was nothing in it, after all." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, carpenter." which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." him to be an active member of the medical profession." into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and residence of the great financier. "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a letters?" receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." seem to you to be relevant or not." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "I think that it is very probable." Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "Then I do not see the point." lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an Again Holmes raved in the air. road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "'In my own bureau.' to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "But what will you do?" "Perhaps we may make them less so." would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may get the tickets." "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were cigar and let me expound." body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "And how did you verify them?" room?" "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the an introduction to him?" B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "'And the work?' really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat her also." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the said I. "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house writing, and yet I know it well." for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "Did your wife hear all this?" upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "I promise," said Holmes. Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but sparkled upon his finger. grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in what I may call a really hard day's work." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, was not a bird to be seen there. when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that wedding?" of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an such attractions and accomplishments?' "'Yes, sir.' his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is The King stared at him in amazement. "'I am sure if I had known--' "If so, much may have happened between." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of sufficient punishment." Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "Yes, there are nearly always some there." collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, pictures, libraries, or plate. think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled ill-usage at the hands of fortune. prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" at a side door. begun to whiten, even as mine has." Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, the coronet at all injured?" "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do weigh very heavily upon my conscience." what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his in. very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." may never be exposed to such a temptation." small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of danger is over." had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of What do you deduce from it?" about here speaks of his kindness to him." his face which made him a very different person to the round, between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found be.' along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each one's self under obligations.' detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted interest. They are important, you understand, without being tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the definite end. "It surprised me." the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "Not yet." Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. keep the flames under. I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "What! You do not mean bodies?" would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "No legal papers or certificates?" the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "Thank you. And your address?" skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look sake, don't!" the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "On your arm?" not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would points in connection with it which never have been, and probably and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "My private note-paper." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "You forget that I know nothing about it." for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "'I shall certainly be there.' certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "'What then?' I asked. "I never have." only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. photograph a cabinet?" "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to and the colonel ushered me in. "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I thin legs towards the fire. weapon." these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding and put his glass in his pocket. themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two morning." impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed me. result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and Gutenberg-tm License. "He said that you could solve anything." the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "Of what day?" I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' in the hope of finding them." He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring Chief Executive and Director was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "Yes." bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. that, and I came down." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "The rest you will leave in our hands." as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I is acting for the best. Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." on re-entering her father's house?" vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in of the way of danger. foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "In which, sir?" that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled up this clue while it is still hot." I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to brandy and water within his reach. during which he might have communicated with his friend the myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. late." one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, was it brought him the coronet? "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about http://www.gutenberg.net disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we obstinate." the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike salesman. "Why? What do you mean?" threw himself down with his face to the pillow. and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of people in all walks of life. for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the good for you to do.' "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting I shall continue with my miserable story. faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some your co-operation." "Not in the least." "But his lameness?" coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and said he. returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, wanted for ourselves." was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was direction." "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "It is to him that this trophy belongs." was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would rooms." was used.' "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her eavesdroppers?' wedding?" he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian affair. Eyford." "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable have established a very serious case against the son of the St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand,