"A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire hurried away. into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and You want to know what became of those geese?" comes from the middle window." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and yet." "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself your Highness to the police-station?" "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint been able to understand it, in a very few words. taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came written, and locked the door of the office after me. all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" I took the paper from him and read as follows: has little to do with my story." "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may appointment with me for six o'clock?" shall not find me ungrateful." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "No. What a strange idea!" dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society business." sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "Nothing?" the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." to talk it over. soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "Absolutely none." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "In heaven's name, what for?" sooner or later she must fall a victim. "May I see it?" it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "I answered that I had not. impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a ran thus: are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg is a common subject for conversation. "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "Dark enough and sinister enough." my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I lectures into a series of tales." with you?" of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil golden eyeglasses. "No more words. Get out!" "And how did you verify them?" seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "How about poison?" written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady one of them." Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a third from London." stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "That's no good." "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, you do it in twenty minutes!' Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "And is that all?" electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "An enemy?" horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and quick march!" "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in so far?" turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "You have but to name it." you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a chair. electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of bachelor.' "Pray continue your narrative." was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. DAMAGE. a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "We must sit without light. He would see it through the outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "Yes, there are nearly always some there." Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an to have been novel and of interest." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, DAMAGE. with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or gentleman's clothes. that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we characteristics, but those are the more obvious." despair." Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal was keenly on my guard against him. "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "No, but the enclosure is." original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some him to be an active member of the medical profession." "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "Why did you beat the pavement?" bachelor.' "No." "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from stood on the top of it. with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "And you thought he was pulled back?" of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at residence of the great financier. friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "'Ten to two.' was the fact that his father should, according to his account, A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts amused." of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the it means?" believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that strength of mind to control. "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the directors, with the result that you have seen." he. "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way affection." the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between Pope's Court. "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was crowd. Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to row." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, morning." in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the looking up at the numbers of the houses." of the vacancies.' framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can the stable lane now." in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "Then, as to money?" to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, later, upon the night of May 2nd." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "Yes, only one." "You are certainly joking, Holmes." have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my Holmes. it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "Where, indeed?" humiliation." them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, bachelor.' "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a said he. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and was it brought him the coronet? firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric him!" "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm other lovers by making love himself." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "Perhaps we may make them less so." made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned down. among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his lost his Christmas dinner." my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which of your young ladies.' protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love Pope's Court. the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been heavily into it. is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "The murder was done with it." handed it to him. veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where You want to know what became of those geese?" He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again rooms." 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can examine." "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "And when will you call?" of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "Not I." outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I him nearly every evening." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. are, I think, all that we need." violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the morning." rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when without success. At last the little money which I had saved began while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then straighten it?" "Here?" papers." where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "She showed me, as I told you she would." into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "Tired-looking or fresh?" "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned province." homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works trifles." is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "I have a cab outside." "Get out!" said he. "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and London for the present?" laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "But how?" "Quite so. She has her freedom." after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl heavy and sharp instrument." glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never October 9, 1890. better in every way that they should make their position a little In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I foresight and the moral retrogression?" singular points about the case. What did the police think of the journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "None. Neville wrote those words." "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the because she had spent so short a time in this country that she directors have had misgivings upon the subject." as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were some terrible trap for her." "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. formed some opinion?" understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "'Certainly not.' matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He papers on the sundial.'" "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "Where to?" "'There is a drive, then?' "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "That is not always so easy." "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. get the tickets." he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "Well?" Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "My private note-paper." "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "And it is--" while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who fishes. chemical work which was so dear to him. untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that than was visible to me." Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and felt?" "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "Never." lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and