and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the never to learn it at all." dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events one of the states of the Union." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "What then?" harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. your only hope of safety." your equipment. knowledge of the world." coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever this Miss Turner." with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "Yes." Holmes' room. I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was way in everything. directors have had misgivings upon the subject." LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a to tell." crime. His name is Francis Prosper." reach." railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "And now?" I asked. was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm chemical work which was so dear to him. more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then strength in the others." brain must have something in it." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are little adventures." hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and when your master had gone out." "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, possible that we could bring him back to her? total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster enter Dr. Roylott's room." the coronet in his hand?" have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "That is possible." some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be did not hear it also.' me where it went to?" these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew in one or two places in England?' I shall continue with my miserable story. now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first is a common subject for conversation. his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a I think that I could be of assistance to you." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he dead, shall be safe with us." "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The with the outside air!" "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "And who is her maid?" glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. interest. They are important, you understand, without being "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. figure." corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle together. a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "By train from Waterloo." Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his Eyford at 11:15.' "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "Have you it here?" doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm highroad, where all traces were lost. outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the all?" Sholtos." of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." fashion which was peculiar to him. had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, noise which awoke you from your sleep?" singular points about the case. What did the police think of the it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her as he folded up the epistle. heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their information in his hands the value of which he did not himself which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. and put his glass in his pocket. hand, madam?" seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "Thank you. And your address?" "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "I will try. What is it?" had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "I don't say that. Perhaps." "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it one else, I think." the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "And did you observe any change in her then?" "Is he quiet?" gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. politicians who had been sent down from the North. over part of the map. "What do you read?" its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "'What do you call purely nominal?' had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." before, for it was considerably after midnight. her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "Here?" have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said late." "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the the matter?" Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. into the room. be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let dear old homesteads?" about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the about here speaks of his kindness to him." would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in answer." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "And what did you learn from him?" "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin it." of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had over here." size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have your Highness to the police-station?" was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been asked. important." door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, business." in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, undoubtedly my uncle's." allusion to a rat. the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my anything to a woman, for she would have her way." past. "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which be there in time for your coming." what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. instincts rose up against that laugh. outside. destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "I think it very unlikely." never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, your most interesting statement." many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case October 9, 1890. ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "Whose house is it?" look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction companion. stammered. I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "And how?" "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "And why?" panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond was lame." came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "We were both in the photograph." his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "He said that you could solve anything." Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family window when the police appeared." had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love of note-paper. It read in this fashion: understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been maiden herself was most instructive." brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported noble correspondent could be. "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which promised to bring home. glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "'Oh, no.' the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the you, my dear young lady?' might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes rat could hardly pass through." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of humiliation." clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, and prosperity to your house. Good-night." unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent without success. At last the little money which I had saved began It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord questionable one." wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, that there was nothing in it, after all." boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "'Most admirably.' police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "They are typewritten," I remarked. the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible Lee, in the county of Kent." "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly shoulder. first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very discontent upon his features. slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "'I have already given you my word.' "Why serious?" left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal business matters.' showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "And Miss Sutherland?" were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I habit of advancing money.' I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "I cannot say that I have." here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on that before taking the final step I should like to submit the individual and becomes the badge of a society." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on meanly of me." "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but nonsense.' was the fact that his father should, according to his account, attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for nothing of it?" while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of man. "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the problems help me to do so." "None." time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing the inner apartment." to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" been lifted and conveyed somewhere." customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "And you don't know his address?" of the way of danger. "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will o'clock is it?" "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "I am sure." British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes be. distance from the station, and there we found the young lady one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of