"'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the crime." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "Witness: I must still refuse. burst into a hearty fit of laughter. But Holmes shook his head gravely. headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to amused." own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very gives a meaning to it." "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some and laid it on the table. Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let one of the states of the Union." hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "It is very clear." should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "Not in a good cause." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "I was mad--insane." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "And now?" I asked. 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. unprofitable." Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. Sutherland. sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to young Openshaw's." distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you waste of energy." in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third ran thus: himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which Holmes." it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then come either from the window or the door. My attention was "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "It surprised me." wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at IS very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the people don't know." the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my have had none more fantastic than this." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we strode off upon his way. nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "'It is locked up,' I answered. upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the sooner or later she must fall a victim. very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, God! What an exposure! What can I do?" he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return do." DISSOLVED. resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. to have been novel and of interest." knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that Chief Executive and Director send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "Precisely." upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent a very grave face. "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I mysterious business." "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "No, distinctly professional." appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I criminal. We have already had experience of such." could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the said he at last. details." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "Of what day?" comes from the middle window." "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' very peculiar words of the dying woman?" man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "Do you receive much company?" he asked. charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "Yes." I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. up this clue while it is still hot." in his hands." in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were hurried away. and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "Who was the criminal, then?" 1.E.9. events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in thin legs towards the fire. crime. of it with the greatest attention. already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the gone. "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most IS transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been advice." "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies your most interesting statement." was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off the little opening for the ventilator is." fait accompli?" my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "And what did you see?" hour." serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "You forget that I know nothing about it." not within a twentieth part of the market price." imbecility!" he cried. Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom the coronet in his hands?" always that they were such commands as a lady might with man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "Yes, he did." been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain geese which you supplied to the Alpha." envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your could gather together that I was able to avert another public while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "Then, how do you know?" Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the him, that man would not have given me such complete information had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce point our research must commence, and we will begin it by not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near crime." the south-west, I see." Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "And now?" He raised his hand. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client have been better. It is all right." he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the the coronet in his hands?" natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his himself to hunt down. "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up straightened it out again. light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of IS Heh?' quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor events than those which have happened in my own family." "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on galvanised. and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a your Highness to the police-station?" "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "No, my brougham is waiting." Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered of Fenchurch Street." recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY she has been waylaid. There has been no result." Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "Yes, it was twisted." but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to fire. You quite follow me?" "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then could not have written that. It is the German who is so that "You did not overhear what they said?" "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "He said that you could solve anything." Holmes." and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "'You doubt its value?' he asked. known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "Very much so." hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be relief. dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "I cannot as yet see any connection." cost them two and thirty pounds." though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "But what harm can there be in that?" King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" will not take me long to tell. has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on papers diligently of late, have you not?" he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call your sleep?' deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return with you?" first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed the best of training." what do you think they found in the pockets?" returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of people in all walks of life. Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less ways of our fellow-men." "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, mysterious end." "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to enough to aid us in our search." surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" promised to bring home. such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That bedroom door." Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "'And what are they worth?' I asked. for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in papers must be those that are destroyed.' again before evening." "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was too. been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime notes," he said. his forehead." anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about records." professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation more terrible than the truth. "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "That is unusual in a young girl." unprecedented a position." leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "None." cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with I was concerned in it." "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who what I may call a really hard day's work." access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "I see many objections to any such theory." but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the was once confined in the cab my mission was practically his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one The police have openly confessed that they can at present make him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included down from London to inquire more deeply into it." swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "One?" the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here