be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good could not account in any way for the presence of the missing It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late never to learn it at all." stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the that threaten you." then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the IS outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "Very well, sir. And this stone?" at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His thirty. in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works she to prove their authenticity?" photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business quickly through a disagreeable task. voice. standing smiling on the door-step. client, rising. far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "Do you receive much company?" he asked. Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual tension within him. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "And it is--" "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "Quite so." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began maid will bring up your coffee." than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing is acting for the best. "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly James Windibank. Voilà tout!" and wait." and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "I am following you closely," I answered. hardly wander." usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just disappearance of the bride.'" abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, has little to do with my story." flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "Then, as to money?" to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "I am following you closely," I answered. alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached to talk it over. corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "I say that I have solved it." "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the of his shoulders. "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of cup of tea. weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. national property. I was determined that the law should have its little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said whether it answered to the description of any of their again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. think, you have already met." fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "Did your wife hear all this?" purpose equally well?" the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of gives a meaning to it." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the so far?" as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "Indeed! Whose, then?" "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for conceal it?" interested in these little problems, and since you are good window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "And leave your case unfinished?" near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned You want to know what became of those geese?" tell him that I know him to be innocent." weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "I am all attention, madam." and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. come either from the window or the door. My attention was For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." October 9, 1890. "You think that he is dead?" round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "Very much so." so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London in the dead of the night?' than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I status with the IRS. skylight. observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." good-night and bustled off upon her way. work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored help us in this matter." the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before the Red-headed League." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed pictures, libraries, or plate. see a sister of mine apply for." year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my IS morning." ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal matter over." 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock the matter?" Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread garden below. weighed down with some great anxiety. 'please.'" interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from to miss it." often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See to have been novel and of interest." "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "You have but to name it." bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "It is solved." all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something three fields round his house, and there he would take his appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed he. "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as you understand?" he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "My last client of the sort was a king." the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No furiously. his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "Is he quiet?" Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I American. Then who could this American be, and why should he very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "But you were on a friendly footing?" everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "My dear Holmes!" Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup and wait." to have been novel and of interest." be.' and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "BALLARAT." as this. Pray let me have the details." business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he hardly wander." Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "'Is purely nominal.' "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the points to suicide?" year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case will find little credit to be gained out of this case." that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey Cross for the Continent." sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "But he might be a bachelor." "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "And is that all?" he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "But what is it you wish?" "It was a confession," I ejaculated. them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence away to you." from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "He might." Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon there when the Rucastles went away." laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "You think so, too?" with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "You are certainly joking, Holmes." time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "'Oh, no.' time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very hardly wander." that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no letters?" over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your despaired of." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and mystery." I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name I am not easy in my mind about them." ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "'Yes, I promise.' elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "No, I am descending." analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was fuss that is made over them." highly," said Holmes. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "How did you trace it, then?" and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "Perhaps I have." fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw acted in my house last night?" "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the cup of tea. I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he guilty parties." girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with into the room. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was in my life." and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "So I am. Very much so." for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "I don't say that. Perhaps." battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the key turn in the lock." thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "No. His orders were to stay in the house." My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "Of Friday, June 19th." bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He pierced for earrings?" shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "Then, how do you know?" "A call for help, you thought?" of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near get her out of the way." "Of what day?" had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a License. You must require such a user to return or point our research must commence, and we will begin it by London for the present?" money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and future lives." no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "It is very kind of you." banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled of Mr. Rucastle's." taking in every detail of the apartment. wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "A confidential servant?" assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. vault. very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and to his chemical studies. offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really