This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any the night.' "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in learned something! Where are the gems?" "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to of." whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my instituted." wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are Does that suggest anything?" "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his something of him before." down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "What, then, did Peterson do?" two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "My private note-paper." "'There is a drive, then?' wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "Of what day?" "How did you trace it, then?" again, where I was soon asleep. which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed held up the lantern and gazed about him. turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened like that before?" are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "What I expected to see." At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see invisible to me," I remarked. "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon manager. the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes if only as a check to my own memory." quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "You have but to name it." heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I likely to be some crony of the landlady's." these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question showing my impatience. very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church the Friday. Was it to be in church?" where Mr. Fordham shows you.' invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "It goes to the housekeeper's room." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both assist you in forming an opinion." for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be trifles." their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and man. own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be detective. months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable Mary, has deserted me." his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the now. It seems that there had been some informality about their been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, formed some opinion?" he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that during the last few years, and there are many noble families to including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "BALLARAT." "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in triumphant cloud from his cigarette. minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "In what way?" asked Holmes. seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the public press." not come at once?" I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "And sit in the dark?" "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "It was." were wasted." for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "Here?" return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "My private note-paper." feature." performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "But how will you look?" chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. was once confined in the cab my mission was practically of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might happened." a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "Of what?" saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I it." other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but bell. Holmes whistled. pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "You have a clue?" "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "It is very kind of you." Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the second window is the one that I jumped from." these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "Thank you. And your address?" cigars in their mouths. simple cases which are so extremely difficult." with you alone." Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had outbreak?" clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your guilty parties." "It is true that I have been generally successful." "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "I was afraid that you were engaged." does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "'Never,' said I. against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come mystery!" about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how the best of training." "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual other lovers by making love himself." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the obstinate." Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "What, then, did Peterson do?" Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "Why did you beat the pavement?" pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no an introduction to him?" money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "I was certainly surprised to find you there." room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "No, finished." prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father obstinate." With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey I approached. happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), his knees, staring into the fire. Pope's Court. the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing introspective fashion. "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, if she died from some sudden fright." face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is children over to America with him, so that I found myself without Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "There are none." weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis his face. "You have a clue?" "Where, indeed?" "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." vault. pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "Witness: Nothing definite. my former friend and companion. "I should be immensely obliged to you." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there do." "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "What office?" written. The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, taking in every detail of the apartment. "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit face and glided from the room. the house with me." she to prove their authenticity?" pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the fattened it expressly for you.' "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I had this final quarrel? space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he looking up at the numbers of the houses." "What?" were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the that "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." trying to your nerves." Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you your room." While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as ago." assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" recall any case within my experience which looked at the first out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three I. Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from invisible to me," I remarked. "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I occupations.' taking in every detail of the apartment. understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "Pray do so." Young McCarthy must be got off, however." passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens affair. was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we brought there to personate someone, and the real person is the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still chill to my heart. are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg envelope. "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George arms and began to sob in a high treble key. my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "Proceed, then." the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, of the one which your family is now devouring." King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "Why, it's a dummy," said he. whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was strength of mind to control. at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to experiences." thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without tied." "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, bare slabs of marble. "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, me what he had done with the three missing stones. of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "The Cedars?" evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he must be when I saw the door open.' once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "'Yes, it was gone.' brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in brought there to personate someone, and the real person is was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "'Is 4 pounds a week.' The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "Yes." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this indeed happy." then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to several quiet little villages up there." "I promise," said Holmes. introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "And how did you find out?" nonsense.' "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "'How far from the body?' has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I me upon any point which I do not make clear." already referred to. of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "Proceed, then." records." freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a were wasted." "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square an introduction to him?" photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. strong reason behind." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "Yes." "I don't believe it." his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a into her hand at the door and which lured her within their myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "But his left-handedness." "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, which should have the effect of calling the attention of the and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "There are none." souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up constraint." send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," the morning and make my own way in the world.' dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of money should be paid at once.' heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "Why did you pick him?" fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully money should be paid at once.' Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks,