labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I meant." of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. bill, which interests me deeply." writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I ready to-morrow?' "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "And I to find an enemy." Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." when you have done it." disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a 'I should be able to look after that for you.' morning." pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "To an end?" opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of from the brougham. that he has suffered." connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "It is very clear." friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon his eyes and forehead. as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "But how?" you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" with some details as to your case." act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another what do you think they found in the pockets?" prove to be little relation between the different incidents of that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "My private note-paper." "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King she to prove their authenticity?" "'You cannot say what it was?' having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. your bag." "Yes, but only for you and me." "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that all-comprehensive glances. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the passage and a tap at the door. of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper miles off. "Precisely so. But how--" begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "That is unusual in a young girl." house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend back alive. of your young ladies.' "What?" hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John this poor creature." charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "Dark enough and sinister enough." excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe you?' right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite papers must be those that are destroyed.' I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment I have it here in my museum." with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "That is not always so easy." to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "Precisely so. But how--" any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "Thank you. Pray proceed." "Yes, only one." father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and point in the dark hollow of his hand. almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "'A dozen yards or so.' purpose of examination. "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. have had none more fantastic than this." of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with some place of shelter and let the county police know what has time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Entirely." possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my Holmes rather sternly. family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "Awake, Watson?" he asked. case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "This concluded the examination of the witness." "Where, then, is my wife?" there was no need for father to know." He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the particular state visit http://pglaf.org yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. them present such singular features as the strange train of "If so, much may have happened between." wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to families. Now for the facts. de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy prison!" to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his cheerful." of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was returned to France?" Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. you." some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the hurried by. "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "'Not at all. I only doubt--' conclusions. His smile broadened. "No." we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having ran thus: I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young lost nothing by them." Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "I have solved it." quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that made him keep the appointment." age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "And now?" He raised his hand. I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "What!" he roared. was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of outsides of the windows. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "By train from Waterloo." of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, of a light. "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who this remarkable episode. do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "How did that help you?" remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." was a lad." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious pity, because in other respects you would really have done very thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "That also I could fathom." are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business friend's singular character. "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. one of them." strong reason behind." returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote gone. "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "And how?" there has been an enclosure here!" swore that no one else had been in the front room during the in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "It is a murder, then?" last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. my secret was safe in his possession. is acting for the best. "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of done what I asked you, Jones?" "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The with frightened eyes at his accuser. "Never to return." silent! Oh, he will be silent!' Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "I would pay ten." the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "I think it very unlikely." those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower system of imprisonment?" Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "I will do it." reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking any little problem which you may submit to me." which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn other, as fresh and trim as possible. the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making I held the little printed slip to the light. and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious me." "And I to find an enemy." aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, furiously. plantation.' and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "An enemy?" you understand?" to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "I am all attention, madam." fish-monger and a tide-waiter." when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "Yes, he did." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its himself to hunt down. photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the which I could not give. He asked for Alice. where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my records." performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than John Swain, of St. Augustine. kind enough to tell me what I should do." companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "Pray continue your narrative." to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. to Leatherhead. "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are are, I think, all that we need." "Yes, sir." on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY woman who has had her own way to make in the world. Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "Witness: It was. bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly himself to tell his story. "Only as much as we can deduce." "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "No, I think that I'll take it." "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the own family. The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "Nothing." what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and telegram would bring me down to your help." Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "No?" "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me becomes even more simple." to take care of herself." wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that Pope's Court. this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, my room." public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from opportunities to fix the problem. other, as fresh and trim as possible. grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little and files of the old papers, following the future career of every young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched ways of our fellow-men." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "I think it very unlikely." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "'There is a drive, then?' there was no need for father to know." petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold little trying to do so much typewriting?" should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" if she died from some sudden fright." been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those Doctor, of the paper and the date." "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up gone before you can get him to hospital." name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "Where, indeed?" into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "Get out!" said he. nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout conduct the inquiry." "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul you want, then?' "But how did you gain them?" in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have matter." smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been him." The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek obstinate." "And how did you verify them?" the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has