dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of place of silver." "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the sneer upon his pale face. occupations.' to-morrow." sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. been." "To the police?" the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by plantation.' possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing I held the little printed slip to the light. yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," outside." seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. opportunities to fix the problem. "BALLARAT." stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. had died away into the silence from which it rose. an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying will find little credit to be gained out of this case." make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his papers diligently of late, have you not?" St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the his grey eyes. matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, my little problems." in this note: did not hear it also.' He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well and wait." he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "You have the photograph?" why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you directors, with the result that you have seen." "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his that the gas is not laid on in his house?" akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the purpose of examination. "Well." quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one at a side door. card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" feature." recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "And Irene Adler?" come either from the window or the door. My attention was town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious obstinate." tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." the address that was given us in the advertisement. "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which the ceiling. treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their of Fenchurch Street." earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for never will be, entirely cleared up. as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and from the brougham. But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. one which it was hard to resist. that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a papers must be those that are destroyed.' "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "My photograph." them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very should be taken.' "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one south, for the country is more deserted there." heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow meanly of me." "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "'Yes, sir.' by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to matter over." twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all observed. as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His thirty. entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered was used.' annoyance, but no jest. "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the it." Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together carpenter." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his an introduction to him?" position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" likely to be some crony of the landlady's." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "And how did he make his money?" make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to heavy and sharp instrument." labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was made his money." case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "Perhaps I have." confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be Count Von Kramm." passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with and laid it on the table. mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and help us in this matter." corner of the building. their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the and prosperity to your house. Good-night." most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "The Cedars?" "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I yards of it?' remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" distance from the station, and there we found the young lady and looked back. although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study whether it answered to the description of any of their very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "Where did he live, then?" "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "Proceed, then." here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, chill to my heart. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man late!' reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the speckled band?" number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil them?" resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the memory. "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg young Openshaw's." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that any little problem which you may submit to me." man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" wanted for ourselves." of the efforts of the United States government and of the better coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it man. I know him from the photograph." questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He the ceiling. "'How far from the body?' glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy in darkness. I leave." "How can you tell that?" "Where, then, is my wife?" tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "Could he throw no light?" sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his them present such singular features as the strange train of coroner's jury." about. Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very chance at all." cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "Dirty?" mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "'What are you doing there?' he asked. looking up at the numbers of the houses." parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. open." the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door voice, changing her seat as requested. "But she will refuse." for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has entirely devoid of interest." the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney congratulate you again." better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small outside. or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "Where, then, is my wife?" like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing burst out into a roar of laughter. 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying where we are going." main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our have I gained?" delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with mystery may be cleared along those lines." you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. matters immensely." smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more will be renamed. necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any minor matters until to-morrow." may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some nonsense.' to go into your room and bar your shutters?" which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "Yes." electronic works "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your works. See paragraph 1.E below. as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a posted to-day." still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the in his hands." the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which room. America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, brandy and water within his reach. man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out the window, rose as we entered. my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the to Leatherhead. discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "What, then?" "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." to arrive at through this?" be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "Then you may entirely rely on me." room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "What then?" Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "You are certainly joking, Holmes." advice." would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." were unconscious?" "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning morning." these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The ways of our fellow-men." To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel were wasted." seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. the nursery. the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner good-night and bustled off upon her way. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and in darkness. "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "Yes, there are nearly always some there." overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed tell them apart.' the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An I held the little printed slip to the light. "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "What can you not understand?" tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "Was there a secret marriage?" order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to