"It goes to the housekeeper's room." "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a very morning of my second wedding." answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what like gravel from a pit.' disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "It is solved." precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever my room." long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the despaired of." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he allusion to a rat. with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "I don't believe it." week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram better in every way that they should make their position a little think, you have already met." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, had picked up in the wood. room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "From his hat?" door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue kind enough to tell me what I should do." noting anything else of interest. "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely face and glided from the room. one which it was hard to resist. "Very murderous indeed." "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own official police." I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled you in yours." interested in these little problems, and since you are good hands. remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while them present such singular features as the strange train of "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "But how could you guess what the motive was?" thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella useful material for showing traces. The double line a little 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving to arrive at through this?" this Miss Turner." you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "None." point our research must commence, and we will begin it by woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "My private note-paper." "Why did you pick him?" "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, wall." "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion humiliation." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather fattened it expressly for you.' "Then I do not see the point." flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been and glanced through. he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's strange features which were associated with the two crimes which a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it the devil!" anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. laugh and put his lips to my ear. when your master had gone out." time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "By no means." something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in written. frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not since then to throw any light upon what became of him." that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." His name is Francis Prosper." Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "And you don't know his address?" she has been waylaid. There has been no result." http://gutenberg.net/license). grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, friends, not even his own brother. a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle bonnet, and went out." than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a Surrey." I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "My dear Holmes!" Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." this Miss Turner." instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "Not in the least." "Entirely." walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared chambers. This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big brain must have something in it." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, License. You must require such a user to return or "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "'What would be the hours?' I asked. was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "It was a confession," I ejaculated. that I may have something better before very many minutes are "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "And you thought he was pulled back?" that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "I have seen the police." "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade as noiselessly as she had come. ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful voice. prisoner's face. he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in and capable of preserving a secret.' education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and tell them apart.' in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "And you thought he was pulled back?" "Game for a morning drive?" glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "The murder was done with it." very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "It is no ordinary one." "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "Yes, sir." "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "I am about to be married." were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "'What do you call purely nominal?' "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "Ample." some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. some water from a caraffe. the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of Lestrade of Scotland Yard." unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped experiences." passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "Yes." "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "Here?" "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "'Entirely.' the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and Holmes' thin, eager face. acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see locked." I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this Clair, of Lee." "I say it is." "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "None." remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an the one as in the other." stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "How do you know, then?" writing, and yet I know it well." the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "I answered that I had not. out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "Stolen." before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional taking in every detail of the apartment. distance from the station, and there we found the young lady the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "It missed him, then?" run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "Yes." half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to outside." have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "The best possible." severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "'Where to?' spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at face and glided from the room. 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain late." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in to-night's adventure." yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty not as remarkable as your advertisement." "No?" he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really the coroner come to?" sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "Yes, all." now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little shadow pass over his face as I spoke. arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing shadow pass over his face as I spoke. and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "What then?" the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "The gentleman I describe." Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely make me his representative both with the servants and with the this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "Was she in good spirits?" on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand o'clock is it?" "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "Deserted you?" at a side door. "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "Murdered?" "In what way?" asked Holmes. "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "And how in the world did you find them?" him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall case-book, which he consulted. do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me washing it down with a long draught of water. determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "Was your sister dressed?" Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "And your mother is alive?" "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have enough to aid us in our search." strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "You saw the ventilator, too?" low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "Whose house is it?" Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little standing smiling on the door-step. "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "Of what?" without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "Do you go out much in society?" "You did not overhear what they said?" my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say through." connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and strength of mind to control. reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough."