desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" this as likely?" to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without been with you?" "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, sake, don't!" to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to nonsense.' slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no in this note: ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no absorbing." experiences." in the dead of the night?' away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his followed. "The best possible." "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "Then how many are there?" "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his them, and came down just as you departed. was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to colonel looking down at me. "'Never,' said I. way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. crackling voice. will be renamed. could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always make me his representative both with the servants and with the came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this other, as fresh and trim as possible. "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly examination of the premises, but without finding anything which it. to where he stood hid behind the curtain. In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which politicians who had been sent down from the North. I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my have had none more fantastic than this." "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a was feeling which was the fattest.' experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door public press." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and along the entire front of the house, with three long windows will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "No." It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in status with the IRS. intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was village inn over there?" enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your Pool. character. have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was appeal." out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "Precisely." a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He during the last few years, and there are many noble families to you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in that threaten you." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "No." "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, the inner apartment." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some is acting for the best. that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "So I am. Very much so." woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice strong and stiff." "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. ventilator." Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, His smile broadened. manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was the very letters. But what is this written above them?' I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "My own seal." the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left I took the paper from him and read as follows: companion quietly. cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more this poor creature." You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I directors have had misgivings upon the subject." I am not easy in my mind about them." not fit the lock." with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right future lives." "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "Do you know him?" of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here individual and becomes the badge of a society." Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have is," said he presently: glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it occurred." his wife has ceased to love him." and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. appeal." "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "I shall be delighted." conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been you understand?" "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us than to us. them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could narrative." the coroner come to?" The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" strode off upon his way. the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "Then he might have called to you?" Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "And who is her maid?" "I warn you that they are very incomplete." by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "The Cedars?" see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." this poor creature." disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact hair?' instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet was shining brightly. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, more terrible than the truth. Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "'Yes, I promise.' "No, thank goodness, she did not." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "That sounds a little paradoxical." together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the figure." it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for indeed happy." He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who noble correspondent could be. "Won't it ring?" hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "But how did you gain them?" shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is the armchair which I pushed forward for him. This is what he says: who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "Why did you pick him?" and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was what do you think they found in the pockets?" but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was infinite languor in his face. "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "When did it break out?" "No." printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "At what time?" what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "'Is 4 pounds a week.' never will be, entirely cleared up. impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily his knees, staring into the fire. middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did closing the door. corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong strange features which were associated with the two crimes which instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The seem to you to be relevant or not." that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "A client, then?" "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "Can I be of assistance?" address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "You think so, too?" carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was once more for Briony Lodge. "That is also quite modern," said the lady. and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "I should like to see him very much." the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "It is no ordinary one." maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly read over the extraordinary announcement. pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular in darkness. "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It detained." returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "'Why that?' I asks. more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "But of what society?" feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was him, that man would not have given me such complete information was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is room had already been engaged for us. "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot young Openshaw's." might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the gone before you can get him to hospital." The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "No." had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "'What, the red-headed man?' no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "Oh, yes, easily." "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "Ten will be early enough." individual and becomes the badge of a society." the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake of the way of danger. ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See in this way: refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my lamp in his hand. "Yes." opened the door, and slipped through. typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "None." "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "I promise," said Holmes. very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "Was he the only applicant?" them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to and effective." For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. who was a member of your goose club." considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If acted in my house last night?" astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the have got?" the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "The Cedars?" I was concerned in it." X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the it with his own hands." dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who the matter." "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. in the hope of finding them." filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." the child." throat." of this gang." any little problem which you may submit to me." License. You must require such a user to return or her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to residence of the great financier. take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as started for the Temple to see my husband. eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country Holmes' thin, eager face. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were with you alone." returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "This concluded the examination of the witness." "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my in the dead of the night?' "'You doubt its value?' he asked. o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." knowledge of the world." Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "'You doubt its value?' he asked. until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of me where it went to?" suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a