to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "This photograph!" found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly guilty parties." mysterious business." "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "Get out!" said he. Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time business." you in yours." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure this remarkable episode. fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace that I am arrested." Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "Now, then, what's the last entry?" shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen some water from a caraffe. Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of and glanced through. the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the easy-going way." Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "Not in a good cause." may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It galvanised. "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, disappearance of the bride.'" to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a will he say when he returns?" thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, was shining brightly. street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. there!' my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was pictures, libraries, or plate. "Never." "But how will you look?" was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business the morning and make my own way in the world.' be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a constraint." "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he question you as to those details which seem to me to be most Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of villagers almost as much as their master. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not "Did he not advertise?" "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words presume?" not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." nothing with him." vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "In heaven's name, what for?" in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly evidence," I remarked. Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, and shall probably return to London by the evening train." absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up over his head with a sweet womanly caress. of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the Project Gutenberg-tm works. "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as done what I asked you, Jones?" matters immensely." her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "Married! When?" hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." touch that coronet?' you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge young Openshaw's." previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. been shamefully used." "And your father? Did you tell him?" address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought client, rising. and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." gone before you can get him to hospital." last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came Doctor, of the paper and the date." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "Proceed, then." as he folded up the epistle. exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that whereabouts. solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "And for present expenses?" if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I "So I heard. You have him here?" yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' was feeling which was the fattest.' dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" politicians who had been sent down from the North. see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were even so self-evident a thing as that." because she had spent so short a time in this country that she astonishment. other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy introspective fashion. "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if photograph?" possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when in one or two places in England?' months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "You have compromised yourself seriously." "Yes." "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "It is true that I have been generally successful." "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was would then never go into court at all." important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "Look there!" said he. whereabouts. assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall walking." had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment I have it here in my museum." hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several most important business. It is probable that he will be away all the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it one or two very singular points about this room. For example, A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of returning from some small jollification and was making his way "No." "'Never.' a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "The decline of his fortunes, then?" to Leatherhead. The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small Doctor, of the paper and the date." My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, fasten all the windows?" Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "The landlord of the Alpha." innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause photograph?" Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I you do it in twenty minutes!' so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "Breckinridge is his name." one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. was a loud and authoritative tap. drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the union?" "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "She walked into the breakfast-room." "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "Ha! you find it so?" sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is bears upon the case?" that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from chair. burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "And on what day did he meet his death?" credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "What then?" The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one cause to be." considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." despaired of." contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather sake, don't!" upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was weary and pale-looking. been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the important." charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed daring than any effort of the imagination." nights." result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "Yes, certainly." "I cannot think." like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "He slept on the premises." suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction about here speaks of his kindness to him." "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. are, and they are waiting for us." these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I it." I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, shadow pass over his face as I spoke. have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all fact, we may call it conclusive." to where he stood hid behind the curtain. chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "Witness: It was. "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "'What do you call purely nominal?' the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, to Leatherhead. it were putty." clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the Chief Executive and Director upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, must compliment you." that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at to a more successful conclusion." the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The bedroom door." hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." in this way: there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting during which he might have communicated with his friend the "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "You have compromised yourself seriously." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "The decline of his fortunes, then?" freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond cup of tea. "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most his knees, staring into the fire. of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his with some details as to your case." "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. highroad, where all traces were lost. Leave Paddington by the 11:15." winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we searched, without anything being found which could incriminate Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "And that is--" matters immensely." would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster child?' peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice instituted." as noiselessly as she had come. row." like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "My photograph." are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with me what he had done with the three missing stones. treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham knowledge of the world." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "What!" he roared. face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "My last client of the sort was a king." sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good exactly what you advise." in. very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the must compliment you." off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to tapping his fingers upon the table. as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "It's nothing of the kind." "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my to a light-house. again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "'What, the red-headed man?' brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "The rest you will leave in our hands." action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong prison!" put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always residence of the great financier. as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night.