the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "My opinion is in no way altered." "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "From his hat?" reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "About a month then." believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the meant." "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "It is solved." endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "Yes, the wine-cellar." and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "The rest you will leave in our hands." eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing formed some opinion?" here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from strong reason behind." Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." before, for it was considerably after midnight. "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left one's self under obligations.' one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "And how in the world did you find them?" of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "'There is a drive, then?' see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid distance from the station, and there we found the young lady hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching secret." the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but until night should bring an explanation. the room while you explain this matter?" were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "Here?" and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "'What, the red-headed man?' to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a who was a member of your goose club." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum papers must be those that are destroyed.' second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. were new raised from a basin. annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "Not in a good cause." He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it not as remarkable as your advertisement." the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has the coronet in his hand?" "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit clanging. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry may have an influence upon European history." however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that of the vacancies.' "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to and laid it on the table. of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." closely." dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed know that the truth is known." "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "The Cedars?" what these perils are?" thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges bird of prey. we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. you." merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, results." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time crowd. "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate she used." "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "By train from Waterloo." found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "Not in the least." still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had cigar and let me expound." her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a forebodings. "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "I don't believe it." key turn in the lock." stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it searched, without anything being found which could incriminate from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "But she could not love him." of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a For additional contact information: right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly walking." to tell." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "And how did he make his money?" photograph?" my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for voice, changing her seat as requested. know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "Absolutely?" client, rising. "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "But she could not love him." akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons everything which you would wish to know." before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "None." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "Yes, there are nearly always some there." took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they not as remarkable as your advertisement." sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having woven round him. ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "Nothing?" and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll and put his glass in his pocket. "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was becomes even more simple." "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "Quite so. She has her freedom." the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry developed." "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that very morning of my second wedding." unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of wall." he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of secret." dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "'And the work?' though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "What have you done?" asked Holmes. one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. the room while you explain this matter?" "One of the highest in England." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there The King stared at him in amazement. central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "Pray let us have it, for all that." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "You are certainly joking, Holmes." this poor creature." sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "Yes, only one." address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" cost them two and thirty pounds." "Ample." "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six telegram would bring me down to your help." maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little second." "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "'A dozen yards or so.' night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her it means?" remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "'Not at all. I only doubt--' To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from as the one I chose?' upon an income of about 60 pounds." sake, don't!" roused himself from his reverie. an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the quickly through a disagreeable task. occurred." will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you used to be." upon the white wrist. sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard less than 26s. 4d. lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "And I." finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most even so self-evident a thing as that." registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up in the port of London." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend was not a bird to be seen there. the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "Holmes, the busybody!" caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice were unconscious?" time." back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "Have you it here?" he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "That's no good." looking up at the numbers of the houses." to-morrow." life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, vague figure huddled up in the darkness. convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a had died away into the silence from which it rose. Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. his huge brown hands. happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey acted in my house last night?" "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, and have this put in the evening papers." "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De where Mr. Fordham shows you.' the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has eat it." ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. o'clock is it?" responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "You have carte blanche." my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation Does that suggest anything?" was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the Lestrade of Scotland Yard." there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he seven miles from Eyford Station.' bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a useful material for showing traces. The double line a little I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "It is possible." look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has all-comprehensive glances. last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "And how?" chamber." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "What!" he roared. that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "Frequently." "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking served to weaken the effect. John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little Leave Paddington by the 11:15." You want to know what became of those geese?" the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who retorted upon me, and I on you." of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "No." he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. envelope. "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried interests were the same as his." then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the better grown goose." heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to as noiselessly as she had come. "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase do.' have one." "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the secret." face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "Dr. Becher's." would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as