chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid never will be, entirely cleared up. coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had certainly not very gracious." B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old was already answered. "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being never to learn it at all." It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "Witness: Nothing definite. property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a washing it down with a long draught of water. "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker obstinate." back alive. come either from the window or the door. My attention was The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "There is the writing." long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The with you alone." "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a easy-going way." lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else and the colonel ushered me in. grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as green of the new foliage. 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "How long did she speak to this Alice?" considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in less than 26s. 4d. one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this that "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "I was certainly surprised to find you there." as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "This concluded the examination of the witness." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO newspaper selections." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "What! You do not mean bodies?" chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. meant." not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked following enigmatical notices: England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was again on its way. the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able families. Now for the facts. "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER stalked out of the room. "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads any." desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent child?' dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through your room." leave you to your papers for a little." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet coat-tails." France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "That is it on the dressing-table." foresight and the moral retrogression?" glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she certainly do as you advise." everything which you would wish to know." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "Yes, he did." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would strong reason behind." occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "Nearly eleven." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea it. "Yes, it would be as well." distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the key of the affair now." "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "Then I am your man." developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over words came to my lips. me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend her also." "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "No, I think that I'll take it." has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very drawing your inferences." that I can to serve you." I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "What then?" money should be paid at once.' "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet read over the extraordinary announcement. while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge him to be an active member of the medical profession." "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "May I see it?" one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand married her." one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and hair?' The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the that you can jump it.' "A client, then?" and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would noble correspondent could be. grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "None." surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. locked." safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "I am to be neutral?" the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking so far?" "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and colonel looking down at me. in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "Was the window open?" and have this put in the evening papers." "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but when you have done it." "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling Miss Holder?" "Perhaps I have." Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "He slept on the premises." "And how?" and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings closely." assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to country, and eventually married, without anyone having a as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "I will do it." occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce clang of the bell. "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you she might be summoned. cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" shoulder; "he's all right." But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "Witness: Nothing definite. Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, the coroner come to?" "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried easy-going way." coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, and that he would see to anything that turned up. assist you in forming an opinion." "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. lips." held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year presented which may be striking and bizarre without being whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, if I call to-morrow?" which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper lamp. "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the distance from the station, and there we found the young lady the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my furiously. game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in Sholtos." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See highroad, where all traces were lost. A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the happened." his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend considering the formidable letters which were received by himself away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "I see many objections to any such theory." of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high gives a meaning to it." my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness unclasping of his long thin hands. "Where to?" with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action shoulder; "he's all right." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, sneer upon his pale face. this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "Yes." "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them villagers almost as much as their master. "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, one or two very singular points about this room. For example, moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it to his chemical studies. "'I shall certainly be there.' inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included himself to hunt down. sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. the bottom.' "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." with her." A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I their singular warning or token before them when starting upon Countess of Morcar's?" at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the fuss that is made over them." King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "Then I do not see the point." by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" the very letters. But what is this written above them?' and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country Holmes." "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he before, for it was considerably after midnight. sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate six. Come in!" mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "And Miss Sutherland?" seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three not personally threatened." mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she and the colonel ushered me in. words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "Was there a secret marriage?" make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "It surprised me." the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my was once confined in the cab my mission was practically I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl prison!" from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "Do you receive much company?" he asked. have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time views." Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "You horrify me!" "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "Then I shall certainly come." society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, about here speaks of his kindness to him." whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "What! You do not mean bodies?" while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little London for the present?" have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent the devil!" was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning promised to bring home. "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "I promise," said Holmes. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing questioning and rather startled gaze. The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "And what did you see?" and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "Stolen, then." "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient companion imperturbably. will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very in. gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly along the entire front of the house, with three long windows know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "On your arm?" paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he that I can to serve you." I shall continue with my miserable story. The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "Perfectly so." office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of the Assizes." Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "'Is 4 pounds a week.' is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the as he remarks, very much against the son." the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and way in." wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "Very. But will he see it?" and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "And your father? Did you tell him?" shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they your sleep?'