you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "The Coroner: What do you mean? "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work to-night." of the vacancies.' that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy one else, I think." you want, then?' hard-headed British jury." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," door?" if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "He is dead," cried several voices. The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "Then how many are there?" about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock distinguish the words: overpowering excitement and concern. in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "Do you go out much in society?" "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella it? Did I buy the geese off you?" maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "'Certainly not.' Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "And when will you call?" homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. away to you." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "Of what?" tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his emerged. "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "You were travelling in the States?" "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he fact, we may call it conclusive." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. all?" with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the You can understand that this register and diary may implicate the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "'A dozen yards or so.' my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting status with the IRS. "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "Seven!" I answered. have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "It is very kind of you." up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled nothing with him." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "Why did you pick him?" We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "And when will you call?" room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an Surrey." my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A chance." "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "No." definite end. pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "No, finished." farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed written. narrative." said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "Pray do so." centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the over part of the map. "What do you read?" put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the you." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for straightened it out again. Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "Did he not advertise?" my room." "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "But he might be a bachelor." it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case distance from the station, and there we found the young lady it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "How can you tell that?" a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a it were putty." glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double and no precautions can guard against." lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "Not in a good cause." swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which himself to tell his story. side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an tail." "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you bedroom door." Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be http://gutenberg.net/license). the loss of it. without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. indeed which he could not unravel. sooner or later she must fall a victim. given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of quickly through a disagreeable task. me what he had done with the three missing stones. "'As governess?' very peculiar words of the dying woman?" into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there delirious. accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "And did you observe any change in her then?" "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** lumber-room." go from here to the Strand." "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." train.' continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped away into the river." lids now and glanced across at his visitor. derbies." half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are your billet.' face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been whether it answered to the description of any of their "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat Serpentine Avenue. away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "'About the same.' cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It despair." beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "What, then, did Peterson do?" "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "I shall be delighted." "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, said he at last. "Two days later this same performance was gone through under he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this upon the sideboard." "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "Yes, it was twisted." "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite of this gang." "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO shadow pass over his face as I spoke. remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most upon a handsome competence. its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "By no means." of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "You have compromised yourself seriously." relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is McCarthy." remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "That was it, sir." advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their arrested. You then--" I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "The Cedars?" purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "You'll never persuade me to believe that." present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had him!" "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "And I to find an enemy." uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." fat-encircled eyes. aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for Pool. that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I believe that I should never have any practice at all. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, the inner apartment." "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is bird I ate is country bred." hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up only touch the interest." eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "Deserted you?" known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. quickly through a disagreeable task. to his chemical studies. glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see and put his glass in his pocket. closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "How are you getting on?" moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if was already answered. What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, writer." companion. "'In my own bureau.' Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their ready to-morrow?' the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from any more." I nodded to show that I had heard. I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a at my remark. "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "Where did you address your letters, then?" have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is presented more singular features than that which was associated might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall call the police, let the police find what they can.' so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" comes from the middle window." "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition vault. square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "Only as much as we can deduce." "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty murdered man." Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second intrusion of other matters." affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon again." hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "I never have." "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or not fit the lock." "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the him, that man would not have given me such complete information "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as characteristics, but those are the more obvious." be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "Very truly yours, cigar and let me expound." which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "Two days later this same performance was gone through under run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "I shall be delighted." crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could the tragedy. shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. Eyford." The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the asked with his eyes open. determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would it with his own hands." that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "It came here." vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among fled together." little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are the coronet at all injured?" LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE companion quietly. papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is the window, rose as we entered. "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw in the port of London." with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, of note-paper. It read in this fashion: black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End have I gained?" "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the