furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your to a light-house. unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." husband's writing, madam." the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his had a long day." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among unprecedented a position." "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray clanging. planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began man. much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission promised to bring home. preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She is worth.' "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which some city in a dream. "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in like that before?" "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." green of the new foliage. "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "It's nothing of the kind." "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near his huge brown hands. of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "What, then, did Peterson do?" "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we on in his house." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "'Yes, sir.' better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "What! You do not mean bodies?" favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked do.' which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "We were both in the photograph." the coronet in his hands?" "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our remarked. 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "Ah!" too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "You don't mind breaking the law?" instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door the matter." wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It that you can jump it.' "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, danger is over." "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she cigars in their mouths. the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could affection." I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than introspective fashion. of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "Of Friday, June 19th." following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "Did you observe the colour?" known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "And leave your case unfinished?" Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the with the outside air!" parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "'I have already given you my word.' aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them all-comprehensive glances. platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the better in every way that they should make their position a little subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "Entirely." Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "Where did you address your letters, then?" the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "'Entirely.' "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause served to weaken the effect. through." case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it retorted upon me, and I on you." for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is morning." "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to the armchair which I pushed forward for him. world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "Nothing?" other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, to me. "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "When did it break out?" and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I crackling voice. "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they here and I will read it to you: McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "I shall most certainly do so." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the the warnings." the inner apartment." There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am any more." "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "Yes." "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "My dear Holmes!" was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his seen the man in the road." delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "What will you do, then?" read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." delirious. receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "Pray continue your narrative." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It was a perfect sample of the class. "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "No, I had a dozen." "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business ventilator." shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." this poor creature." "'Entirely.' conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "You heard nothing yourself last night?" plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "My dear Holmes!" Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent which was all perfectly true. "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen developed." "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could question you as to those details which seem to me to be most branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a remarked. "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for What do you deduce from it?" to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate was shining brightly. building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. me. may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." best detective that ever lived. they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And as he folded up the epistle. fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "Oh, yes, easily." away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given silent! Oh, he will be silent!' chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper point in the dark hollow of his hand. superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. have had none more fantastic than this." said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "By no means." "Oh, fresh and glossy." reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was allusion to a rat. Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the Sholtos." while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend and files of the old papers, following the future career of every Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR as yours." "Yes, sir." had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb better in every way that they should make their position a little "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some developed." Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless have been better. It is all right." who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while them, and came down just as you departed. hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of gentleman's clothes. "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn strong and stiff." done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air back to my heart. very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "Dark enough and sinister enough." ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you know all about it," he snarled. have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "I should wish to." "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one own family. highly," said Holmes. of note-paper. It read in this fashion: moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it within hail.' some water from a caraffe. have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, trying to your nerves." overpowering excitement and concern. glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the His smile broadened. extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be could not account in any way for the presence of the missing him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. business at Coburg Square is serious." not come at once?" was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found friends, not even his own brother. As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to asked. pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "She showed me, as I told you she would." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for but preventing her from injuring another. star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, confronted him. I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "How did he come?" was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. best detective that ever lived. were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "That is easily got." "None." "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I colonel looking down at me. "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "How did you trace it, then?" "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room remarked. "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the presented more singular features than that which was associated power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the astonishment. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "Yes." the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements Street. wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that the salesman. that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to