which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves which should have the effect of calling the attention of the reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had writer." a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and problems help me to do so." lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her digesting their breakfasts at home." was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "You think so, too?" "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in which I could not give. He asked for Alice. awaited us upon the table. "Dr. Becher's." charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "Yes." orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. it." Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers in him." sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there that you can jump it.' heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be colour had been driven from his face. "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, prisoner's face. believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "Precisely." you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "May I see it?" Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' which it had come upon my father." Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite until night should bring an explanation. though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, had formerly been in part my own. "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case observed. miles off. them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of whereabouts. the date of his supposed suicide." certainly not very gracious." "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between ill-usage at the hands of fortune. if she died from some sudden fright." answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." anything to a woman, for she would have her way." protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said hour." willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." closely." stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "When did it break out?" "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There about. have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "On the contrary, this is the right side." the iron safe, which he closed upon it. street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her which our visitor detailed to us. confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." companion. from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "That's no good." cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "BALLARAT." feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, out." "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out roused himself from his reverie. The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in Gutenberg-tm License. wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. with the outside air!" it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "What is it, then--a fire?" "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps Holmes' thin, eager face. There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "And you don't know his address?" "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "None." was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "But I have heard all that you have heard." "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "No legal papers or certificates?" fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand his knees, staring into the fire. first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "But his left-handedness." Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "My dear Holmes!" your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" started for the Temple to see my husband. the side-table." dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "And you don't know his address?" suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He which was all perfectly true. slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss way in everything. "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave Pope's Court. "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "Very truly yours, with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a highly," said Holmes. idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes the stable lane now." you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between of your young ladies.' could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and father's young wife. from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid gone. outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "Did he not advertise?" basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A skylight. the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "But what will you do?" galvanised. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "'I have heard so.' reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "'I am sure that I do not know.' thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea chance at all." "They are typewritten," I remarked. "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in II. make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with assist you in forming an opinion." Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his it means?" profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent it were putty." A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "About a month then." for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which address. preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position strength." or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were giving me time to thank him. ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their closely." before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "I am about to be married." awaited us upon the table. not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "It is very kind of you." a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our burst into a hearty fit of laughter. with frightened eyes at his accuser. "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "I am all attention, madam." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. of receipt of the work. young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years congenial hunt. his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "Have you her photograph?" answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "Nor running a chance of arrest?" been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a presented which may be striking and bizarre without being and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. returned to France?" out." collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "Holmes, the busybody!" broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the that before taking the final step I should like to submit the immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "When did she vanish, then?" box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a manager. description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "And what then?" down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. noble correspondent could be. borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest the King without delay." train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." round and wave him away like that.' centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat awkward doing business with an alias." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT place no limit on the sum I may draw." "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "But how did you gain them?" sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "How are you getting on?" of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen looking up at the numbers of the houses." fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT rooms." aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If during the last few years, and there are many noble families to if she died from some sudden fright." more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and your only hope of safety." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin public press." village inn over there?" intimate personal affairs in this public manner." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "Seven!" I answered. have established a very serious case against the son of the least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were you?' "My stepfather's business papers." finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "Do you know him?" "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "No, I am descending." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the you?' in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "Have you it here?" "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her always that they were such commands as a lady might with wedding?" feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "We were both in the photograph." because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk observed. step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some 1.E.9. "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "Yes." 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my