which I could not give. He asked for Alice. Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "Won't it ring?" profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated weary and pale-looking. the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." better in every way that they should make their position a little most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen the side-table." states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still lost nothing by them." solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The that?' manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the you do it in twenty minutes!' shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. in a very precise fashion." remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "That also I could fathom." upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "But how?" once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black easy-going way." When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that least a most suspicious remark." grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He troubles have been weighing upon his mind. advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "I am all attention, madam." "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "Where, indeed?" the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "'I am sure that I do not know.' thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if redistribution. sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "That is it on the dressing-table." Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott even so self-evident a thing as that." caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "I beg pardon." me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in distance from the station, and there we found the young lady and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project before the coroner and the police-court." "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not is now desirous of getting those letters back." for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey breakfast." and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "Two days later this same performance was gone through under and effective." the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. before, for it was considerably after midnight. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. characteristics, but those are the more obvious." ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "Not social, then?" myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "That you are never beaten." "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at nice household for a young lady." just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. should be taken.' the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem absolutely follow my advice in every respect." the little opening for the ventilator is." elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my without a word or a look. devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "Really! You surprise me." For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by like that before?" standing smiling on the door-step. child?' all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "How on earth--" first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped to tell." have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "Upon what point?" Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and during which he might have communicated with his friend the glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up experiences." "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I Pope's Court. "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' undoubtedly my uncle's." broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the photograph a cabinet?" harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "'Stolen!' he cried. "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "In what way?" asked Holmes. "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt I approached. "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "Yes, he did." however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "My dear Holmes!" would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the read over the extraordinary announcement. own family. sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with records." himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "Yes, there are nearly always some there." France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the of a light. "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "Not yet." had picked up in the wood. "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies "I should wish to." gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, morning." casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church to-night?' "You are hungry," I remarked. "I know where it is." "What then?" Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two next day. my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You *** START: FULL LICENSE *** When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "She told me to ask you." The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; fled together." noble correspondent could be. the inquest, and which are worth considering." "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is lamp. neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "'As governess?' position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side compunction about shooting them down." "Of what?" "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing himself. wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers round with crates and massive boxes. introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic vanished into the darkness. this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "Yes, all." that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "I promise," said Holmes. "It is half-past ten now." your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, writers could invent nothing more crude." prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to disappearance of these gems?" though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "Never to return." was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. Munro.' were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it served to weaken the effect. card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it beyond words. suggested at once that there must be a communication between the cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "How did that help you?" "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "I know where it is." Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I appeared upon the scene." footfalls from the street. "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which swore that no one else had been in the front room during the INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still I shall communicate with you." surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "No legal papers or certificates?" resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." answered with a sidelong glance. his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "No, but the enclosure is." the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side test if we have an answer to our advertisement." been with you?" patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "Entirely." "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable stalked out of the room. they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "Witness: I must still refuse. know that the truth is known." and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I lids now and glanced across at his visitor. 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "'How far from the body?' his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. towards the blaze. something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and client, rising. Serpentine Avenue. "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from appeared upon the scene." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "Certainly." a good hundred miles off by now." The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "How did you deduce the select?" so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "The Cedars?" dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our to miss it." been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a and the whole place is in a blaze." she to prove their authenticity?" Street. his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" bed dies. Does not that strike you?" my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "9th. McCauley cleared. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "'I am sure that I do not know.' "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "'Tell me all about it,' said I. father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower carpenter." "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who wanted for ourselves." "It is very kind of you." scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a will find little credit to be gained out of this case."