rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "You are certainly joking, Holmes." had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he records." that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by morning." "Yes, at the mines." "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes to some other building. "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "That is not always so easy." the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "Proceed, then." thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers never will be, entirely cleared up. ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." Stoke Moran." down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into remarked. nothing with him." dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "Very truly yours, Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "I think that it is very probable." call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "Where did he live, then?" for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." Leadenhall Street--and--" with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "Not I." "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people hand, madam?" "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a window when the police appeared." He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "To the police?" "Yes." be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight that I am arrested." the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "And you thought he was pulled back?" skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY all?" the very letters. But what is this written above them?' I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "What?" box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." writing, and yet I know it well." despaired of." red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to new duties?' could gather together that I was able to avert another public shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag on in his house." "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the awkward doing business with an alias." questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "What!" he roared. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," plantation.' "But you would not advise me to refuse?" Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put get her out of the way." accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had he bowed and left the room without another word. "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you of note-paper. It read in this fashion: out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his that you wished to speak to me?' "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "I will get her to show me." occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," and prosperity to your house. Good-night." friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "We must have a cab." "Just look it up, then." the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very awkward doing business with an alias." "I was sure that I might rely on you." him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a Watson," he said cordially. to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a sneer upon his pale face. "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, golden eyeglasses. photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business like gravel from a pit.' "But to whom?" them?" finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the key turn in the lock." The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with the bottom.' to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can You can understand that this register and diary may implicate so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a over with notes and figures. "The vanishing of the lady." "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "And the cigar-holder?" Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the distance from the station, and there we found the young lady direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the unprofitable." follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is back alive. intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would nights." "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "That is unusual in a young girl." The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be the ceiling. "Dirty?" of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that pictures, libraries, or plate. "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two empty. they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had been with you?" had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom details." I am not easy in my mind about them." you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the unkempt, staring out at me. printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' over with notes and figures. to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a congenial hunt. the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a derbies." "Then I can wait in the next room." weapon." is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the up this clue while it is still hot." "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She hereditary King of Bohemia." he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "One of the highest in England." provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR taking in every detail of the apartment. brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' this unhappy family?" room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the 'I should be able to look after that for you.' before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring I. Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "It came here." was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "Nothing?" answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and secret." starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could pound a week." many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "I will get her to show me." a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, Arthur Conan Doyle stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and sentimental considerations in the background which would induce in him." "That is easily got." call you and give you the chance." you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we impression behind it as though a window had gently closed earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had The summons was a brief and urgent one. surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "'And what are they worth?' I asked. fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the the general public were present, then?" "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will whereabouts. "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "I cannot imagine." "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "My Mary? Impossible!" across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was during that time.' notes," he said. is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "What, then?" need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is vanished into the darkness. Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "I was afraid that you were engaged." "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight just called myself is not exactly my own." hereditary King of Bohemia." As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most crackling voice. simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. empty. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" it means?" erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "That was it, sir." "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "I saw her in conversation with her maid." acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as help us in this matter." following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business would apply.' "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," towards the blaze. had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." a suggestive one." Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the McCarthy." creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would nothing with him." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I daring than any effort of the imagination." "And when will you call?" "He said too much." he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that back alive. I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." you." compunction about shooting them down." and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I of this gang." "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, or other trace. But how on earth--" "Precisely so. But how--" this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "It is solved." pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and least a most suspicious remark." built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on present." creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks the stable lane now." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from just ask you whether you had heard it.' afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All were new raised from a basin. have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All tightly behind him. his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "Breckinridge is his name." was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in the armchair which I pushed forward for him. coat-tails." "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. second window is the one that I jumped from." to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. better in every way that they should make their position a little character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been Leave Paddington by the 11:15." do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "Perhaps I have." soul! here is her carriage at the door." this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your touch that coronet?' would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, if she died from some sudden fright." can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an peculiar to him. law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. and all of them with the keenest interest. direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "Just look it up, then." into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad purpose of examination. "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on be.' thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers really the only notable feature about the thing." comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "An enemy?" it." pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw