was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "Certainly." had a long day." Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would recover the gem." "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it hand, madam?" opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the had no one to advise her at such a crisis." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the stood on the top of it. all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of Surrey." asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which if I call to-morrow?" It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was interest. They are important, you understand, without being and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have redistribution. going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter three fields round his house, and there he would take his came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "How did you deduce the select?" your Highness to the police-station?" me where it went to?" "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "Yes, the wine-cellar." You want to know what became of those geese?" branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." question. "Where, then?" him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots touch that coronet?' "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "I saw her in conversation with her maid." me. You must get home instantly and act." either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." simple cases which are so extremely difficult." was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "BALLARAT." feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the might have a private word with us. of a light. Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one chance." introspective fashion. hereditary King of Bohemia." towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be advice." in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "But I am all in the dark." "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he man. Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I clanging. upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "'Certainly,' I answered. "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as and put his glass in his pocket. fait accompli?" woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "On Monday." as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, of." works. See paragraph 1.E below. table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. knowledge of the world." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "You did not overhear what they said?" save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. delirious. "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. fish-monger and a tide-waiter." so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser both be extremely obliged.' "Very truly yours, "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "He might." the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "What will you do, then?" "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "My last client of the sort was a king." the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they wedding?" upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the really the only notable feature about the thing." "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent Leave Paddington by the 11:15." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version she used." view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you the iron safe, which he closed upon it. weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing Young McCarthy must be got off, however." place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his quick march!" "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "It's nothing of the kind." for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. some city in a dream. this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended any." upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so John Swain, of St. Augustine. occurred." any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent exactly what you advise." address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his acquaintance?" job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here arms and began to sob in a high treble key. bird of prey. these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was get her out of the way." means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "But of what society?" us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "You'll never persuade me to believe that." and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed photograph?" happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark back to my heart. unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My his wife has ceased to love him." should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of hurried away. "Do you know him?" "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of his huge brown hands. case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. Watson," he said cordially. common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "Then I can wait in the next room." helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in From what you have told me I think that it is possible that window when the police appeared." "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "Who by?" hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had have had none more fantastic than this." Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "What steps will you take?" I asked. "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united his eyes and forehead. almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would crowd. "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "I have seen the police." he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, even so self-evident a thing as that." was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. was a loud and authoritative tap. world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists have established a very serious case against the son of the "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean enter into my head. followed. "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving do." I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "Then I shall certainly come." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. read it out to me." the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would and the church but not where the lady lived." "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning and effective." as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in point our research must commence, and we will begin it by Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations noise which awoke you from your sleep?" as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his made his money." foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came to-night's adventure." interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He business came to an end." foresight and the moral retrogression?" no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem morning." I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel the stones. had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had arms and began to sob in a high treble key. instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, breakfast." "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet you." put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "No, I had a dozen." the very letters. But what is this written above them?' but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the correct than the official force." The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "'Most admirably.' promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "In heaven's name, what for?" was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, the tragedy. the matter." For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "What will you say?" "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a me have 200 pounds?' "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "And on what day did he meet his death?" 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical existence." woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "You will not go there first?" "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "'What, the red-headed man?' written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "Yes." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "If I can be of use." crime." "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it Arthur Conan Doyle and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As me where it went to?" "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is where we are going." gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box giving me time to thank him. "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." good for you to do.' destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" new acquaintance to Baker Street. tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at ventilator." the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from how narrow had been my escape. hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several with you?" servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible taking in every detail of the apartment. I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely the coronet in his hand?" freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, that before taking the final step I should like to submit the feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will