marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should But Holmes shook his head gravely. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "By train from Waterloo." believe that I should never have any practice at all. of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we Serpentine Avenue. landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same gives a meaning to it." low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at tear off another piece?' "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have there has been an enclosure here!" why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two felt the room to be a little close.' this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "How many? I don't know." can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. remarked. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "'Certainly,' I answered. "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. voice, changing her seat as requested. loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was strange features which were associated with the two crimes which only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "No good news?" unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have prove to be little relation between the different incidents of adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was just ask you whether you had heard it.' I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "'Certainly not.' "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple foresight and the moral retrogression?" squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have article?" "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. the very morning of the wedding." he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that hour." He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "Certainly." spark where all is dark to me." should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, child?' "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and if only as a check to my own memory." kind enough to tell me what I should do." few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a Lee, in the county of Kent." 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." to miss it." opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "Imitated." You can understand that this register and diary may implicate your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I I held the little printed slip to the light. explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "Pray do so." flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "It is possible." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. formed some opinion?" "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" the side-table." in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. and wait." the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "I am armed." "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "Then I shall certainly come." a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so depend upon my doing so.' "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "It was." soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up strong reason behind." step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy correct than the official force." have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "I cannot imagine." trifles." grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps kind enough to tell me what I should do." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "It came here." London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "Where did you address your letters, then?" and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "None." that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "Where, indeed?" his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "Certainly." value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening fait accompli?" is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but as he remarks, very much against the son." "Do you go out much in society?" give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "No, thank goodness, she did not." hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their I leave." "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "What will you say?" it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he whatever might befall. now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty right! Sit down and let us talk it over." on in his house." "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great as he folded up the epistle. Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." bed dies. Does not that strike you?" scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." that you wished to speak to me?' I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "'No, I know no one in these parts.' I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' residence of the great financier. he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case you do it in twenty minutes!' simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each could gather together that I was able to avert another public took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here forehead. "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "I say that I have solved it." set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian arrangements." he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be there has been an enclosure here!" teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, of it with the greatest attention. "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face which I could not give. He asked for Alice. indeed happy." waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "It is possible." "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "Indeed! Whose, then?" the one as in the other." quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he Farm upon the left." away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "Yes, sir." to-night." furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything had formerly been in part my own. "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing highly," said Holmes. in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "Here?" side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the occupations.' upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready the station." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." in him." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "None." course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, the devil!" "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is our word." disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "'Not at all. I only doubt--' machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. them, and came down just as you departed. humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we the tragedy. attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. key turn in the lock." immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point at my own good fortune. Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see house for five minutes.' distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, you in your example." James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. Holmes rather sternly. "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "'A dozen yards or so.' "Yes, at the mines." About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. believe that I should never have any practice at all. lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "And how did he make his money?" "Well, it is a possible supposition." dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "Entirely." Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "Who was the criminal, then?" back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in wedding?" had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "What can it mean?" I gasped. "My last client of the sort was a king." and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a points in connection with it which never have been, and probably he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all fishes. the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the past. at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father the iron safe, which he closed upon it. in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "On the contrary, this is the right side." so far?" been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "You don't mind breaking the law?" "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. imbecility!" he cried. "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: heavy and sharp instrument." existence." for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "Have you it here?" the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond bled considerably." by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "And who is her maid?" returning from some small jollification and was making his way began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "Where, indeed?" is worth.' "You think so, too?" "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall all that?" the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "But what is it you wish?" Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "Just look it up, then." Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and forecastle of an emigrant ship. any more." his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, returning from some small jollification and was making his way "It was a confession," I ejaculated. sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is call it cruel." galvanised. about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small colour had been driven from his face. "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant crime. the one as in the other." he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "'How far from the body?' find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his good-night and bustled off upon her way. "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair there!' her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a