had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "And it is--" business." letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "Well, it is a possible supposition." made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. off." despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you strength." in his power. someone who had been in Australia." including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get later, upon the night of May 2nd." line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the father's young wife. landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "Where, indeed?" violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient what I may call a really hard day's work." quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "'I am sure if I had known--' mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom appeared upon the scene." This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you orange pips. 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "None." me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "What! You do not mean bodies?" "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "Will you bet, then?" over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "I was afraid that you were engaged." "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "I am to be neutral?" calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "'I am sure if I had known--' "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no geese which you supplied to the Alpha." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an with you alone." Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and shadow pass over his face as I spoke. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own indiscretion." "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a lamp in his hand. train.' weighed down with some great anxiety. him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "Your sister is dead, then?" maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly and wait." Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would garden below. as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "What office?" The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood delighted to hear it," he said. protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting dead, shall be safe with us." Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "'Most admirably.' "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY I have it here in my museum." seem to you to be relevant or not." Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "How did he come?" strength." "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two out." stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to over his head with a sweet womanly caress. some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "You horrify me!" "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical gives a meaning to it." very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. him. drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife the matter." "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "My dear Holmes!" left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." begun to whiten, even as mine has." think you a quite exceptional woman." "And who is her maid?" heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to cause to be." which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "So I heard. You have him here?" "But of what society?" "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The have had none more fantastic than this." fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "What shall I do?" over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "Because he was handy and would come cheap." was feeling which was the fattest.' matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to fled together." from you?" you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might you in your example." I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him drawing your inferences." when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "She told me to ask you." we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the outsides of the windows. if only as a check to my own memory." unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "It is true that I have been generally successful." with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "No?" a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at man. together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right only touch the interest." the coroner come to?" One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "Perhaps I have." liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what one of them." at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "That sounds a little paradoxical." "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "I was mad--insane." placed his cuttings. The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the joking. his face. bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I must compliment you." 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a nothing of it?" Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master behind me. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too new duties?' "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "I have seen the police." one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "Not in a good cause." then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "There are none." brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "A greater distance to travel." conclusions. "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its Where does the thing come from?' ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock wedding?" should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the morning." father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "How about poison?" walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might light and attacked it." should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "Married! When?" world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "Was the window open?" to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There most interesting one." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "Could he throw no light?" meanly of me." that he has suffered." You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is point our research must commence, and we will begin it by a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case and put his glass in his pocket. "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "Which surely he restored to their owner?" full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." other lovers by making love himself." up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, against a man in the prime of life?" "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of appeared upon the scene." granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his works. See paragraph 1.E below. window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year secret." possible that we could bring him back to her? his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the we went to search for him, face downward in a little to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the telegram would bring me down to your help." room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "We were both in the photograph." "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "'Never,' said I. heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "And did you observe any change in her then?" during which he might have communicated with his friend the result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' tied." he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as chamber." Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." all that?" thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the to affect your life." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of During two years I have had three consultations and one small through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' purpose of examination. "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "From his hat?" manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to business in the City. She little knew what. "You are certainly joking, Holmes." agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could coroner's jury." "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "Nearly eleven." in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "How on earth--" "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his sound at heart." leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I murdered man." roused himself from his reverie. are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "I was sure that I might rely on you." and all of them with the keenest interest. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "Stolen." every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked it were putty." married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do his face. "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office delighted to hear it," he said. very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my giving me time to thank him. followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, flock.' to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and back alive. "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took constraint." occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would breakfast?" envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "No." place of silver." they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "And you can do nothing until then?" characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "'Where to?' one else, I think." "And I say east," said my patient. constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole gigantic client. "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "Yes." should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of door?" the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "What, then?" received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "'There is a drive, then?' right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with the iron safe, which he closed upon it. eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to sparkled upon his finger. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "'I shall certainly be there.' that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "'I have already given you my word.' America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would were new raised from a basin. of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day was not a bird to be seen there. "And the murderer?" trying to your nerves." go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than Dr. Gregory B. Newby "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house relief. The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed