Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that place no limit on the sum I may draw." as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. details should find their way into the papers. Inspector it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." neither fascinating nor artistic." breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply really the only notable feature about the thing." may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to fait accompli?" return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "Oh, the cause is excellent!" lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm horse could go." in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "It is his hat." "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the outside. "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my the Assizes." yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham papers diligently of late, have you not?" "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "Where did he live, then?" plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "Then, how do you know?" my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; enough to aid us in our search." which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in extraordinary contortions. that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. unkempt, staring out at me. Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "'And what salary do you ask?' nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and again before evening." with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "What is it, then--a fire?" shoulder; "he's all right." agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is giving me time to thank him. from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, made him keep the appointment." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and the morning and make my own way in the world.' shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" six. Come in!" yards of it?' Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, national property. I was determined that the law should have its the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "I have my revolver," said I. very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black hour." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a mystery may be cleared along those lines." human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in The summons was a brief and urgent one. the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as the Friday. Was it to be in church?" were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his of the vacancies.' these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be think, you have already met." London for the present?" habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "If I can be of use." indeed happy." of the one which your family is now devouring." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with reach." "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." present." I. "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." of this gang." this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor results." "I was mad--insane." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the showing my impatience. "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He The King stared at him in amazement. terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "Precisely." - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call the Red-headed League." as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "You are hungry," I remarked. "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was occupations.' future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding down. it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "Then you may entirely rely on me." key of the affair now." corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "My own seal." bears upon the case?" "What, then, did Peterson do?" paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." must compliment you." that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "No legal papers or certificates?" into the room. besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my ill-usage at the hands of fortune. Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which bears upon the case?" father's place of business?" crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are for the market.' other means.' Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at disappearance of the bride.'" ran thus: "Yes, it would be as well." with some details as to your case." "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be been able to understand it, in a very few words. the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "This photograph!" perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. been able to understand it, in a very few words. "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we stepfather?" way: "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "I say it is." that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter colour had been driven from his face. "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had your co-operation." listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me said I. the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed about here speaks of his kindness to him." old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "Yes. He waved his hands." fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation writer." It may be so in this case, also." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "Yes." be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by this Miss Turner." highroad, where all traces were lost. out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon Munro.' refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I wedding?" "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer following enigmatical notices: fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. do." "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "Ah!" opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is His name is Francis Prosper." photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "What can you not understand?" My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I our word." his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "But I am all in the dark." suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in tell them apart.' cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "On the contrary, this is the right side." discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he speckled band?" "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six bed dies. Does not that strike you?" there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it and no precautions can guard against." which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB of his shoulders. between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven meanly of me." are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached putting in the horse. it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have touch that coronet?' with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "By no means." he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "I cannot tell." hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and call you and give you the chance." persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any weapon." "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "Yes, there are nearly always some there." met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. voice, changing her seat as requested. does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. floor. here and I will read it to you: is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me people don't know." and I shall be with you presently." "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow writers could invent nothing more crude." reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "It is solved." remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES interested in these little problems, and since you are good fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as quickly through a disagreeable task. "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of brandy and water within his reach. Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "Well, some hundreds of times." very old mansion. accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "May I see it?" think you a quite exceptional woman." papers on the sundial.'" to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a cup of tea. "How about poison?" conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "'Yes.' asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "What, then, did Peterson do?" to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously detained." steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad Foundation arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your exactly what you advise." the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his himself. right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the house for five minutes.' shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "Always." "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy figure." suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the in him." Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "I do." heavy and sharp instrument." manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case The summons was a brief and urgent one. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. thin legs towards the fire. opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, have I gained?" opportunities to fix the problem.