would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "Pray let us have it, for all that." "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "But the mystery?" father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. means taking possession of that which another person has a prior three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, shall use the carriage to-night." I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods the very morning of the wedding." "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now himself in a perplexing position. important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "Certainly." side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off you found me to-night--and running through the front room she Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it tightly behind him. Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had more terrible than the truth. There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and system of imprisonment?" me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "They are typewritten," I remarked. "9th. McCauley cleared. "In what way?" asked Holmes. which should have the effect of calling the attention of the Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and affection." in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "That was it, sir." stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "So I heard. You have him here?" absorbing." remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem own family. beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "And Irene Adler?" "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of were wasted." Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that Henry Baker is a member." the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "Ah, but I was recommended to you." Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his eat it." police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "What is it, then--a fire?" in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the business?" part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short waste of energy." for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." to surprise her." The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be better grown goose." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "Where is it, then?" idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, upon the shelf for the interim." frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of have accepted such a situation. to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. what these perils are?" "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the gone. "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my back alive. "Yes, all." "And did you observe any change in her then?" machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so a room. have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who http://gutenberg.net/license). this man was intellectual?" However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "One of his hands." street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler was not a bird to be seen there. "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a rose-bushes. "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "Dr. Becher's." bird I ate is country bred." nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior showing my impatience. even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' too. prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us look upon these things in a different way." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped this poor creature." smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab amused." company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young heavily into it. large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the my secret was safe in his possession. closing the door. photograph?" It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an see a sister of mine apply for." snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "But you have hopes?" not interfere, come what may. You understand?" actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "How on earth--" year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really what I may call a really hard day's work." man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "By train from Waterloo." large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My empty. do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a whatever might befall. and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. to arrive at through this?" of Mr. Rucastle's." after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a detained." which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "But not more so than I to find you." bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very photograph?" where Mr. Fordham shows you.' His name is Francis Prosper." which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old cup of tea. "How did you deduce the select?" "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the quite distinctive." "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a awkward doing business with an alias." Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You astonishment. matter over." to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "Indeed! Whose, then?" "What of the rat, then?" second." "But how?" "'I have already given you my word.' question. "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "Her father is very rich?" "Nearly eleven." He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not things are very often connected not with the larger but with the and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. I have it here in my museum." 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the Miss Holder?" before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which see a sister of mine apply for." the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during memory. stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "Why did you pick him?" "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, Chief Executive and Director "It is a murder, then?" old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into woven round him. "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am questioning and rather startled gaze. transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "I don't say that. Perhaps." list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "'Where could I find him?' "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "My photograph." started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "Then I am your man." I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a present strange and interesting features that it is no easy two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of rose-bushes. "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "Then what has happened to him?" and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his than to us. Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. will be renamed. I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the salesman. "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "Absolutely none." morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I at home. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." allusion to a rat. inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in absorbing." why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and Holmes rather sternly. is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming dear old homesteads?" only touch the interest." and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's three of the beryls in it, was missing. must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "He is dead," cried several voices. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to you." confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the might help us?" contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "Indeed! Whose, then?" contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay 11:15.' stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "Just look it up, then." "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a nothing of it?" which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it papers diligently of late, have you not?" "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "What will you say?" "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "So I heard. You have him here?" Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too Street. 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a when your master had gone out." the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were Heh?' he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my to have that photograph." out." through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a ill-usage at the hands of fortune. you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as definite end. at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two not within a twentieth part of the market price." living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, into the room. "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an into the room. "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "We were both in the photograph." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, and no precautions can guard against." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, chance." The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "I shall most certainly do so." that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. question," said Holmes, smiling. statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "Deserted you?" very peculiar words of the dying woman?" which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "Well, it is a possible supposition." "At what time?" his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and you in yours." prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, six. Come in!" and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might