to have that photograph." have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon him, that man would not have given me such complete information corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He correct than the official force." recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "I know where it is." "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "I am in hopes that she does." "I promise," said Holmes. "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. hair?' village inn over there?" was a loud and authoritative tap. right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of should be so warm over such a trifle." have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "But the mystery?" - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. present." through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': families. Now for the facts. view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you tapping his fingers upon the table. http://www.gutenberg.net "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty detained." Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of was a loud and authoritative tap. it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my following enigmatical notices: "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as at my remark. this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small other lovers by making love himself." "You have the photograph?" diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do three fields round his house, and there he would take his skylight. copied or distributed: purpose equally well?" impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of out of this horrible affair." "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret look upon these things in a different way." "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, easy-going way." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. beyond words. in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very without success. At last the little money which I had saved began they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "It came here." "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, true." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely round and wave him away like that.' The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun This is what he says: Holmes. of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. the coronet in his hand?" backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble observed. circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. we went to search for him, face downward in a little "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight at my remark. you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "Then he might have called to you?" might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case extraordinary contortions. look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." here." "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' paper in the air. observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, is entirely a question of barometric pressure." All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "I am about to be married." "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "About a month then." seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "Yes, certainly." fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy a little more before I quite committed myself. "No more words. Get out!" satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "The murder was done with it." "Will you bet, then?" "It is his hat." "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove place, I think that there is good ground to think that the The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously I shall communicate with you." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "But I have heard all that you have heard." "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "'Then let me do so?' window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the individual and becomes the badge of a society." "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the fattened it expressly for you.' her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "That is not always so easy." in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up said I. "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace and the church but not where the lady lived." assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "Holmes, the busybody!" by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "He is dead," cried several voices. noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the But Holmes shook his head gravely. pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular best detective that ever lived. her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' IS "What have you done?" asked Holmes. considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. dates and names. waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry said he at last. met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed Leadenhall Street--and--" "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "And the cigar-holder?" "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "You have but to name it." Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about The police have openly confessed that they can at present make purpose equally well?" two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "But how?" have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "About a month then." "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he straighten it?" "You are hungry," I remarked. the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to never came back." "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, fact, we may call it conclusive." companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. point our research must commence, and we will begin it by instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "Deserted you?" met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was could gather together that I was able to avert another public keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "What steps will you take?" I asked. fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late The police have openly confessed that they can at present make touch that coronet?' "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, must compliment you." "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have with the outside air!" sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "I have seen the police." then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' vault. be there in time for your coming." pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the exactly what you advise." 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is "Well?" The police have openly confessed that they can at present make XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of the room while you explain this matter?" income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than before the coroner and the police-court." "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had you, my dear young lady?' has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far writer." "Was there a secret marriage?" varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when Lestrade of Scotland Yard." base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of silent! Oh, he will be silent!' grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "Come in!" said he. paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "There are none." and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "That is unusual in a young girl." front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "Nothing?" which was all perfectly true. "And your mother is alive?" adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "It certainly sounds feasible." "No, finished." seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it derbies." "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "Pray be precise as to details," said he. is four-and-twenty." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "What will you do, then?" Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "But who is he?" dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "And how did he make his money?" never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been have been better. It is all right." pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." point in the dark hollow of his hand. cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying nothing with him." "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before with her." "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "Get out!" said he. the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his call the police, let the police find what they can.' as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "Not social, then?" "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible matter over." chemical work which was so dear to him. jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "I will do it." friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, way: the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "'How far from the body?' wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards tightly behind him. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "'No, I know no one in these parts.' will be renamed. "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the certainly not very gracious." events than those which have happened in my own family." When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old was the fact that his father should, according to his account, now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, better grown goose." "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "So I am. Very much so." that, and I came down." among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was