"You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "Yesterday." her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "And when will you call?" instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will in his hands." "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event the best of training." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when digesting their breakfasts at home." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of joking. never to learn it at all." bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew the inner apartment." brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "'It is locked up,' I answered. appointment with me for six o'clock?" entirely lost his self-respect." "How often?" his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed persecution?" was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence when you have done it." "If so, much may have happened between." ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his think that any burglar could have done. way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is have one." some city in a dream. said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they been lifted and conveyed somewhere." of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "Ha! you find it so?" "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular this poor creature." the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock people in all walks of life. the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' union?" for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It without success. At last the little money which I had saved began (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "Certainly, madam." look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever arrangements." England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "Why, what do you mean?" a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of business in the City. She little knew what. perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "You are certainly joking, Holmes." point in the dark hollow of his hand. "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the a room. "To an English lawyer named Norton." human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father acquaintance?" impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "'In my own bureau.' observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen clanging. "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. where she found matters as described by the last witness. states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' he bowed and left the room without another word. struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, you came in." wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then directors, with the result that you have seen." "Yes, sir." could go. "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "Dark enough and sinister enough." "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are said I. a good hundred miles off by now." highly," said Holmes. Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "'What do you call purely nominal?' threw himself down with his face to the pillow. into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "What have you to say now?" them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two despair." "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We must be when I saw the door open.' want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat way: research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." Mrs. Toller serenely. hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in lumber-room." "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "Yes." and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "And I." Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we sooner or later she must fall a victim. yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "Your presence might be invaluable." flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and on re-entering her father's house?" A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt figure." strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in was the fact that his father should, according to his account, is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her have had none more fantastic than this." again on its way. gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in disturbance in my wife." of them has the shutters up.' some terrible trap for her." "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the I held the little printed slip to the light. "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" know that the truth is known." door?" his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such recover the gem." the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "The best possible." minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "Witness: It was. to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I one's self under obligations.' opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind Foundation "'Certainly not. But why?' "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant photograph?" fuss that is made over them." our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "Then, as to money?" "Will you bet, then?" "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "None." "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "And I to find an enemy." have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should that you can jump it.' "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through have accepted such a situation. Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "Where did you address your letters, then?" "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. one of them." time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my very morning of my second wedding." waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "Yesterday." "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO corner of the building. and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential strength of mind to control. the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." into her hand at the door and which lured her within their But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "We were both in the photograph." "There are none." I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. you." again before evening." this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The to talk it over. in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "Could he throw no light?" specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "And when will you call?" "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away learned something! Where are the gems?" and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but I nodded again. "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "Not in a good cause." and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of some water from a caraffe. the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "That is possible." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I key turn in the lock." creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home will take you up to see the machine.' and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, room?" The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "My private note-paper." "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's rose-bushes. the room while you explain this matter?" making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "You have a clue?" could not have written that. It is the German who is so combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "But his lameness?" why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "Pray do so." "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey recover the gem." again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to his cane at the bell-pull. They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, past. destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us in the hope of finding them." "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence Sutherland?" our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. which are rolled in Rotterdam." even so self-evident a thing as that." "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." himself to hunt down. chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." light and attacked it." wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you invisible to me," I remarked. Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" appeal." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "Yes." "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "And you don't know his address?" is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. distance from the station, and there we found the young lady spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal Foundation "Won't it ring?" should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "Oh, fresh and glossy." "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved intrusion of other matters." you?"