got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall the inquest, and which are worth considering." "Yes." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." my special province." thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has plantation.' also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." lost his Christmas dinner." refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands less than 26s. 4d. "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old fashion which was peculiar to him. have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. lids now and glanced across at his visitor. memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to was it brought him the coronet? mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "Yes, sir." now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to society." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "I would pay ten." slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others presume?" and all of them with the keenest interest. "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint might help us?" "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few hardly wander." In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "Oh, yes, easily." ourselves in the office." hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have together. "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." my room." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had absorbing." "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. could not account in any way for the presence of the missing I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "The doctor?" "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "The decline of his fortunes, then?" had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she the best of training." smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon Miss Holder?" It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "Just look it up, then." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "Married! When?" succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. them, and came down just as you departed. to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "Perhaps we may make them less so." as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely up this clue while it is still hot." several quiet little villages up there." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "And now?" I asked. there were one or two details which were new to me. But the your co-operation." without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "My opinion is in no way altered." Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "That you are never beaten." chemical work which was so dear to him. ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose him nearly every evening." see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready of fine shops and stately business premises that they really his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his upon the sideboard." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my hour?' day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous round and wave him away like that.' did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "No sign of it?" case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "That you are never beaten." "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one other means.' me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was went to the Alpha were town bred." been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to unprofitable." purpose equally well?" time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house geese which you supplied to the Alpha." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in third from London." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "No, I am descending." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a call you and give you the chance." ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "Seven!" I answered. standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "But how could you guess what the motive was?" entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for following enigmatical notices: Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" this poor creature." in his hands." wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and you?' 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "And leave your case unfinished?" phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "'As governess?' "Yes, I have one waiting." thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of colour had been driven from his face. You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope mysterious end." believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "I will not look." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "What, then, did Peterson do?" clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside you do it in twenty minutes!' fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the night.' said he. "I will get her to show me." no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in such attractions and accomplishments?' do.' had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and that before taking the final step I should like to submit the sparkled upon his finger. was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, but preventing her from injuring another. every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such horse could go." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing could gather together that I was able to avert another public call it cruel." Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "Very much so." seem to you to be relevant or not." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in vague figure huddled up in the darkness. coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "That is easily got." arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "The King of Scandinavia." even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously page at http://pglaf.org "Yes, it was twisted." One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle events, Mr. Windibank!" before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he recover the gem." you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "Certainly." sentimental considerations in the background which would induce until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to learned something! Where are the gems?" observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven I was concerned in it." attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. rooms." "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "Yes, the wine-cellar." Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his events than those which have happened in my own family." is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall woman who has had her own way to make in the world. was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with yourselves in at night?" he bowed and left the room without another word. and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the morning." slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "Her father is very rich?" mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, works. delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "Texas, I think." turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of is so. I know all about McCarthy." Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies morning." started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in DAMAGE. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a highroad, where all traces were lost. Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "Eh? What was that?" "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources think, you have already met." of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He beg that you will break it off." saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "You horrify me." London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely key of the affair now." was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" pierced for earrings?" "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly and a shock of very red hair. "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. yards of it?' "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her was not a bird to be seen there. "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in it means?" question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony during which he might have communicated with his friend the behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in more solid." the dangers which encompass me." that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." matter." twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you go--none." "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your politicians who had been sent down from the North. "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "Yes?" through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was with you alone." "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the attention." myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most in this way: "Nothing." I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, him. washing it down with a long draught of water. the dangers which encompass me." who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." tightly behind him. before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did secret." "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, works. "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "'Most admirably.' "An accident, I presume?" expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of thin, with a long, sharp nose?" a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "My own seal." "'Certainly,' I answered. who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "Yes." "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not only touch the interest." year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "The rest you will leave in our hands." "Yes, the wine-cellar." deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, foot. I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "Thank you. And your address?" have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own answer." and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "To ruin me." society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner your billet.' late." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "Was she in good spirits?" here." "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he and no precautions can guard against." makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom had this final quarrel? expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were use an arc-and-compass breastpin." you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "This concluded the examination of the witness." drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "I was afraid that you were engaged."