pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." Mrs. Toller serenely. "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "You are certainly joking, Holmes." the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower here and I will read it to you: passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of investigation." will be renamed. which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "No, distinctly professional." we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it with the outside air!" either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On people in all walks of life. always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "It is solved." our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But go back?" paper in the air. the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "Stoke Moran?" said he. that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "I should like to see him very much." His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "I was mad--insane." "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "Yes." It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier to Leatherhead. "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, your billet.' there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "Then how many are there?" "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not questionable one." day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were through." The King stared at him in amazement. knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. one or two very singular points about this room. For example, reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events that?' the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & my little problems." push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "Not particularly." creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered beg that you will break it off." "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have throat." happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." Holmes. have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. quite distinctive." opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the not personally threatened." connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, it. the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" without a word or a look. during the last few years, and there are many noble families to earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, heavy and sharp instrument." face and glided from the room. "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat Sholtos." reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the he bowed and left the room without another word. stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "One?" "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he digesting their breakfasts at home." 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at weighed down with some great anxiety. window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, weary and pale-looking. me have 200 pounds?' prison!" tear off another piece?' however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I I took the paper from him and read as follows: and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this of fine shops and stately business premises that they really locked." B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "Two days later this same performance was gone through under business came to an end." "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "In which, sir?" from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be his knees, staring into the fire. do.' that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from be sorry for having acted so harshly." hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "Yes, he did." staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "This photograph!" "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some business?" spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose shag which I had seen upon the previous night. which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he Literary Archive Foundation London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." breakfast." companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the retorted upon me, and I on you." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. washing it down with a long draught of water. as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "No bad?" of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "I have hopes." same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "What I expected to see." natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, could go. warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "Yes, from Horsham." "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. less than 26s. 4d. of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "And how did you find out?" the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as Sholtos." colonel looking down at me. eavesdroppers?' opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "Always." "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should of them has the shutters up.' for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds you." her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a secret." bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that DAMAGE. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured Dr. Gregory B. Newby "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my kindly on the shoulder. drawing your inferences." "Breckinridge is his name." secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, lost nothing by them." "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came long narrative. "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called you understand?" gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "You heard nothing yourself last night?" One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "Yes, only one." Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his them present such singular features as the strange train of the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "Yes." floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the into the bag, and made for the door. "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "Not yet." status with the IRS. you came in." "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from of the vacancies.' his cane at the bell-pull. for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than criminal. We have already had experience of such." "Was he the only applicant?" companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be me. which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am yards of it?' him and tried to hold him back. "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly ventilator." never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She danger is over." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly cigars in their mouths. "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "How can you tell that?" and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon which we had just quitted. whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were yet." she used." "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It Have you good authority for what you say?" "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of are, I think, all that we need." "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which his cane at the bell-pull. work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "How do you know, then?" and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the instincts rose up against that laugh. the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who the armchair which I pushed forward for him. husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a generous with you in money matters.' "That is not always so easy." Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was had formerly been in part my own. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "I think that it is very probable." and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my in the dead of the night?' him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "One of the highest in England." bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "Quite so." was a loud and authoritative tap. any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "The rest you will leave in our hands." circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the his fortune, and I went back to pa. Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "And you don't know his address?" my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own just ask you whether you had heard it.' still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent which our visitor detailed to us. creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to following enigmatical notices: between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but tapping his fingers upon the table. that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess nonsense.' sparkled upon his finger. "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in shaken than I had ever seen him. with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such gbnewby@pglaf.org would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white three of the beryls in it, was missing. came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "Did your wife hear all this?" It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "Then I shall certainly come." because she had spent so short a time in this country that she secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "It certainly sounds feasible." we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "'Certainly,' I answered. Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "My photograph." flock.' "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "Yes, I have one waiting." his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "I will not look." desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, hard-headed British jury." middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds to arrive at through this?" "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray Street. your sleep?' expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit should be so warm over such a trifle." stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "In heaven's name, what for?" outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is