burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was know all about it," he snarled. and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. Holmes' face clouded over. hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an not, dad?" she asked. that he will be back before evening." bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "Very truly yours, On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "'In my own bureau.' "You horrify me." acquaintance?" maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And lamp. "My private note-paper." his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you Lee, in the county of Kent." the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but followed. former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his such person." appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "That is it on the dressing-table." my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his would apply.' fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "A confidential servant?" quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "My dear Holmes!" are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "There are none." comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I the address that was given us in the advertisement. "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring house for five minutes.' the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, have I gained?" power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle disturbance in my wife." suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a young Openshaw's." someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, murdered man." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of said he at last. "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "Where, then, is my wife?" it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "Has he come with you to-night?" "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have call the police, let the police find what they can.' intrusion of other matters." destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "I assure you that I am in your hands." "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "Pray tell us what has happened to you." which was all perfectly true. simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which like that before?" disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "Yes, only one." upon an income of about 60 pounds." in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was the general public were present, then?" he bowed and left the room without another word. smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country how narrow had been my escape. sufficient punishment." "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' breakfast?" however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, again before evening." He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "'I am sure that I do not know.' until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My directors, with the result that you have seen." for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was gone before you can get him to hospital." simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and started for the Temple to see my husband. "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "Then, as to money?" Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for there in twenty minutes." his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed writing, and yet I know it well." "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in occurred." "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your drove away. "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "It certainly sounds feasible." When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of than to us. future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I the room while you explain this matter?" secret." quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual delirious. not use it unless it is absolutely needed." fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he drawing your inferences." didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we 1.F. sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who directors have had misgivings upon the subject." your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was that has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they my special province." some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you at home. ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose ways including including checks, online payments and credit card investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "It is to him that this trophy belongs." down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "I am all attention, madam." Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a was keenly on my guard against him. among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in miles off. say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "Your presence might be invaluable." "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite it? Did I buy the geese off you?" man. demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing acquaintance?" - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, not personally threatened." usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are I shall communicate with you." the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon upon an income of about 60 pounds." "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? you." contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "It is very kind of you." "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we during which he might have communicated with his friend the "No." "Imitated." "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock locked. your co-operation." weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress prove to be little relation between the different incidents of opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "Yes, it would be as well." the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for details should find their way into the papers. Inspector some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "There are none." hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that dead, shall be safe with us." Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went residence of the great financier. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. fact, we may call it conclusive." "'As governess?' should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "In what way?" asked Holmes. "When did it break out?" "You'll never persuade me to believe that." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight of your young ladies.' that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, intrusion of other matters." "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "I don't say that. Perhaps." works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," forbidden door. across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "One of his hands." wedding?" crime. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a straighten it?" and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always least a fellow-countryman. He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "No." coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of lumber-room." printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "I saw her in conversation with her maid." frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "He said too much." "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual along the entire front of the house, with three long windows less than 26s. 4d. gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such discontent upon his features. very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my served to weaken the effect. much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever Heh?' offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "We must sit without light. He would see it through the hour?' "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had skylight. "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the go from here to the Strand." ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of to have been novel and of interest." "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us daring than any effort of the imagination." "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to long narrative. nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was dates and names. o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "'And what salary do you ask?' vanished into the darkness. "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in vanished into the darkness. to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his do.' hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon union?" showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. himself to hunt down. "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there I think that I could be of assistance to you." advice." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly the general public were present, then?" "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the subject to the trademark license, especially commercial right! Sit down and let us talk it over." what is your own theory as to what took place?" he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the to affect your life." chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very must be when I saw the door open.' scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know affair. "Two days later this same performance was gone through under providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance a room. keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "'I am sure that I do not know.' you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I really the only notable feature about the thing." while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress throat." madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "Indeed! Whose, then?" could not have written that. It is the German who is so Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner country, and eventually married, without anyone having a he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and chance." quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Have they thought of looking outside the house?"