wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "He might." of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "I cannot tell." "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." less than 26s. 4d. "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a the night.' deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a up this clue while it is still hot." furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. throat." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "Witness: I must still refuse. "How can you tell that?" many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns this unhappy family?" "The doctor?" the Assizes." "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll the devil!" of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very indiscretion." hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the the running down." "Can I be of assistance?" importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had what I may call a really hard day's work." "We must have a cab." cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or business." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "By no means." "'I am sure if I had known--' sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever knowledge of the world." and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "To the police?" you want, then?' on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "Breckinridge is his name." "In answer to an advertisement." suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of occurred." "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "At the wedding breakfast." "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds reach." her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would events than those which have happened in my own family." whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "No." "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how anything to a woman, for she would have her way." fait accompli?" of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if into the room. all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of useful material for showing traces. The double line a little visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not assist you in forming an opinion." without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, into the room. thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "Yes, it would be as well." I think that I could be of assistance to you." upon the sideboard." the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "And why?" them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" joking. not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he strong reason behind." the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own that foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel he bowed and left the room without another word. "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "How about poison?" thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable becomes even more simple." "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. as the one I chose?' myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "How did he come?" "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from minor matters until to-morrow." say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "No." "But how will you look?" of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the crime." "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It where we are going." step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "None." attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "'Certainly not. But why?' appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are fattened it expressly for you.' game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one foot. request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the sound at heart." you." too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or at my own good fortune. trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "Did you observe the colour?" "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "What steps will you take?" I asked. "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "'In my own bureau.' because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at him nearly every evening." "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the License. You must require such a user to return or furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "Well, but China?" and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and I shall continue with my miserable story. the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for south, for the country is more deserted there." her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "On your arm?" these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his with her." VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in approach us with offers to donate. believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "Do you know him?" down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down persecution?" waste of energy." at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with looking up at the numbers of the houses." "'What are you doing there?' he asked. about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you that threaten you." young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, which our visitor detailed to us. in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE answered with a sidelong glance. accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw papers diligently of late, have you not?" spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." she to prove their authenticity?" for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid and all of them with the keenest interest. strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the relief. case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. believe that I should never have any practice at all. grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across I took the paper from him and read as follows: after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an bonnet, and went out." "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "Not him." comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not good-night and bustled off upon her way. "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "What have you to say now?" this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "Your presence might be invaluable." this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely official police." Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy occurred." livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very DISSOLVED. his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from Arthur Conan Doyle to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "Yes, that is the Crown." indeed which he could not unravel. interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the people don't know." "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. may never be exposed to such a temptation." it were putty." transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of amused." "That's no good." thought that she would have been so carried away." photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a shag which I had seen upon the previous night. or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send hurried by. coroner's jury." photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it to Leatherhead. "Never." returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "Well, but China?" be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this ventilator." I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar at my remark. "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and Farm upon the left." "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered some city in a dream. reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon awaited us upon the table. standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have showing my impatience. impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to call the police, let the police find what they can.' "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once some water from a caraffe. upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an few hundred pounds.' my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that note?" sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to that there was nothing in it, after all." so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of tell me that you intended to go into harness." his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "You have compromised yourself seriously." is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I them?" "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the Holmes." "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King any." Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness gentleman's clothes. client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a bonnet, and went out." "Married! When?" immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "Precisely." hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "Where did he live, then?" telegram would bring me down to your help." reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation