society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in bed dies. Does not that strike you?" association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. garden below. "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "10th. John Swain cleared. "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, Holmes rather sternly. "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' gone before you can get him to hospital." prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at quick march!" look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are Holmes' face clouded over. "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the The summons was a brief and urgent one. distinguish the words: him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' down. evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "My private note-paper." fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "Is he quiet?" with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "Seven!" I answered. "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "Murdered?" I nodded again. strode off upon his way. goes." "No?" London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "His face fell immediately. goes." window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." bird of prey. out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his room had already been engaged for us. her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, place of silver." at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "Pray be precise as to details," said he. pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "'And what are they worth?' I asked. silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what hurried away. which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the which should have the effect of calling the attention of the to change my dress. crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, him to be an active member of the medical profession." to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking and effective." trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough nothing with him." "My opinion is in no way altered." pressing in one house as in another. colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "A greater distance to travel." overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" persecution?" Henry Baker is a member." few hundred pounds.' my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had him and tried to hold him back. prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her you understand?" "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. nice household for a young lady." distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "I cannot imagine." at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "And why?" which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said lost his Christmas dinner." not, dad?" she asked. "You think that he is dead?" seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere awaited us upon the table. young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "What is it?" away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire results." I nodded to show that I had heard. peculiar to him. "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. depend upon your compliance." brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to third from London." finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in bearing upon the case." sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "'Tell me all about it,' said I. neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever light and attacked it." roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "Could he throw no light?" another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "My last client of the sort was a king." the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have families. Now for the facts. that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "Nothing." case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between help us in this matter." was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "Of Friday, June 19th." of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them your Highness to the police-station?" scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my 'please.'" about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "But he might be a bachelor." their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. outside." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "Then I can wait in the next room." "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting them present such singular features as the strange train of "The best possible." sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened where we are going." Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it pressing in one house as in another. during the last few years, and there are many noble families to (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in meanly of me." The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "My dear Holmes!" "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining likely to be some crony of the landlady's." but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what shall use the carriage to-night." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that than to us. the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "She will not sell." social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I I think that I could be of assistance to you." my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been III. "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "And how did you verify them?" affair. was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that delirious. "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "Nearly eleven." "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said not interfere, come what may. You understand?" While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "No?" "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we DISSOLVED. breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "And it is--" INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards miles off. "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite the side-table." "In heaven's name, what for?" Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed relief. even of instruction." the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "I should be immensely obliged to you." bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the cost them two and thirty pounds." "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "No." I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing fire. You quite follow me?" town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "'Where could I find him?' money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't this as likely?" success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the hurried away. crime." "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged suggested at once that there must be a communication between the serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "Could he throw no light?" views." remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out in the dead of the night?' upon the sideboard." sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid yet." "My dear Holmes!" have been better. It is all right." Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she together. and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who heavily into it. by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "Did he not advertise?" little trying to do so much typewriting?" side. "But you have hopes?" charged with?" "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the future lives." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots mysterious end." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and man. of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off too. reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from very old mansion. had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "Not in the least." "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from nothing with him." play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "'Yes.' heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. was already answered. family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been I held the little printed slip to the light. conclusions. the Assizes." unclasping of his long thin hands. work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' that I may have something better before very many minutes are cup of tea. "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at go from here to the Strand." "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. matter." "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "Her father is very rich?" hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little light and attacked it." does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed I have it here in my museum." Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself before the coroner and the police-court." back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "I cannot tell." job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "Absolutely none." "Not particularly." dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the beyond words. thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day happened." "Yes, I have one waiting." "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "One of the highest in England." them, and came down just as you departed. present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that man. "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "You have it, sir, just as it happened." he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "How about poison?" "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. observed. they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney fishes. second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My address. prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some had no one to advise her at such a crisis." Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between breakfast and whispered something to her husband. My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "Then I do not see the point." complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" in my life." you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face enter Dr. Roylott's room." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A developed." "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so written. when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few corner of the building. meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and your co-operation." it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at behind me. the inquest, and which are worth considering." for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would to surprise her." him. became a certainty. "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we furiously. him, that man would not have given me such complete information money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. conduct the inquiry." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to