was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own You want to know what became of those geese?" to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the Holmes." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. amused." unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "But what harm can there be in that?" in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" seven miles from Eyford Station.' stepfather?" must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I where we are going." learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. directors, with the result that you have seen." The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that pressing in one house as in another. instituted." spare." minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "'And what salary do you ask?' "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a be.' breakfast?" the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to his knees, staring into the fire. considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "No, thank goodness, she did not." "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's extraordinary contortions. begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had disappearance of the bride.'" "Precisely." on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called read it out to me." where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "What then?" after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be have accepted such a situation. "'Where could I find him?' broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project you in your example." convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "My last client of the sort was a king." "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. some place of shelter and let the county police know what has reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "About a month then." "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some that you saw all that I did." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for foot. form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather opened the door, and slipped through. reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "Entirely." master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a him." is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. clang of the bell. entirely lost his self-respect." "A call for help, you thought?" union?" We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her Arthur Conan Doyle Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as remarked. He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you said he. away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, and looked back. however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "The rest you will leave in our hands." Where does the thing come from?' story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "No, I think that I'll take it." "That you are never beaten." "Where is it, then?" "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, depend upon my doing so.' d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making at a side door. as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "But to whom?" should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "I came to find a friend." round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch flock.' in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "Yes?" the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was about. Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom you." attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On overpowering excitement and concern. "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, gone before you can get him to hospital." gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter minor matters until to-morrow." of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. three fields round his house, and there he would take his have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "Always." have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "Where, indeed?" about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "Certainly." the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an said Mr. Holder. the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over hopeless attempt at recovering them." time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled I am not easy in my mind about them." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. outside. set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "By train from Waterloo." There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "Do you go out much in society?" "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his annoyance, but no jest. approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. in his power. have not had my rubber." wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and weigh very heavily upon my conscience." and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was window when the police appeared." have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" Watson," he said cordially. misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever think that he is innocent?" last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her signal between you and your father? focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet carpenter." 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "'Is 4 pounds a week.' completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider tapping his fingers upon the table. "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was power." "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "9th. McCauley cleared. lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug as he remarks, very much against the son." of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to really the only notable feature about the thing." a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that and put his glass in his pocket. abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against was lame." well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the of the way of danger. obstinate." B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive during the last few years, and there are many noble families to deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "And how have you succeeded?" "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "I have hopes." 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who like gravel from a pit.' body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "I am still in the dark." want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "Yes." aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." know that the truth is known." were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is Dr. Gregory B. Newby good for you to do.' "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "The landlord of the Alpha." your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin awaited us upon the table. What do you deduce from it?" when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her helping a boy to put up the shutters. late!' gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an distinguish the words: Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of cigar and let me expound." upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the guilty parties." why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at Doctor, of the paper and the date." repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you fact, we may call it conclusive." also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a was a loud and authoritative tap. "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good over with notes and figures. hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with Heh?' just called myself is not exactly my own." simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "Precisely." Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there his face. We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "You horrify me." a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "'What then?' I asked. Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" everything which you would wish to know." wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, desk. right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, indiscretion." "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "'What are you doing there?' he asked. object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "Yes, but only for you and me." think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "Yes, that is the Crown." "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. over with notes and figures. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "Not I." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "'Then let me do so?' upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional that there was nothing in it, after all." touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "'I am sure that I do not know.' I held the little printed slip to the light. the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "Ha! you find it so?" home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "I will get her to show me." o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "No, distinctly professional." was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "How on earth--" What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out Mrs. Toller serenely. merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for gone. can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to posted to-day." alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, joking. most important business. It is probable that he will be away all submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. IS chance." all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place main points of my analysis." connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "She walked into the breakfast-room." that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, said he. and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents very old mansion. believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "And you don't know his address?" Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I