tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to to arrive at through this?" request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other the iron safe, which he closed upon it. unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "Can I be of assistance?" fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "'Is purely nominal.' "Your presence might be invaluable." received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and the little opening for the ventilator is." full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If gbnewby@pglaf.org said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of for its centre. advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A prepare for the new role I have to play." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "My Mary? Impossible!" 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "Yes, sir." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his Serpentine Avenue. uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual of fine shops and stately business premises that they really a very grave face. wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "A client, then?" as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, both be extremely obliged.' inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In into the room. "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "Could he throw no light?" rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed promised to bring home. posted to-day." Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, instituted." bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "No." is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. the station." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and crime." were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something together. left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a begun to whiten, even as mine has." for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "Then you may be so with me." kindly on the shoulder. left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only not within a twentieth part of the market price." from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the house for five minutes.' forebodings. case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the secret." Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the go from here to the Strand." Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all gentleman's clothes. "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "That is also quite modern," said the lady. however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might to change my dress. should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so point our research must commence, and we will begin it by the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know any." garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have returning from some small jollification and was making his way "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "Married! When?" "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "Yes, I have one waiting." believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, had died away into the silence from which it rose. the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "'Which dealer's?' once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me the coronet in his hand?" "How on earth--" A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, it were putty." without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "And sit in the dark?" sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods desk. ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "Then I do not see the point." "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "Yes, only one." have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I enter Dr. Roylott's room." "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and and wait." what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly the address that was given us in the advertisement. gigantic client. "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "They are typewritten," I remarked. "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "Stoke Moran?" said he. "I am following you closely," I answered. pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight touch that coronet?' "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow the so-precious time, but come!' "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off License. You must require such a user to return or who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, helping a boy to put up the shutters. the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was words came to my lips. unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" you?' "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another and capable of preserving a secret.' of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as cause to be." shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like if she died from some sudden fright." wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the London for the present?" favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "I am armed." himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the make me his representative both with the servants and with the strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events me, and I could not think that his explanation of the together. "'Never.' "One of the highest in England." presented more singular features than that which was associated "Then I shall certainly come." Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" sneer upon his pale face. for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always Munro.' his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "And your mother is alive?" and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A get the tickets." into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," one else, I think." free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to Miss Holder?" me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "I don't believe it." have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to Holmes' room. came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. she used." PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by have got?" manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some any little problem which you may submit to me." salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All paper in the air. that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must nights." charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one lumber-room." That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed points to suicide?" "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a friend's singular character. was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your to-night?' sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study see a sister of mine apply for." to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised point in the dark hollow of his hand. saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old gone. side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out morning." they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "What can you not understand?" been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. tied." initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked of the vacancies.' was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the signal between you and your father? girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become more solid." "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in meant." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural dates and names. position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered there." The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. gbnewby@pglaf.org "By no means." understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so sake, don't!" held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the believe that I should never have any practice at all. him to be an active member of the medical profession." Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "One of his hands." docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a you found me to-night--and running through the front room she pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying His smile broadened. an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We from you?" great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "I do." He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I Holmes." governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases my former friend and companion. dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would pity, because in other respects you would really have done very behind me. gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until been able to understand it, in a very few words. suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little generous with you in money matters.' sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "His face fell immediately. suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the in a very precise fashion." and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, http://gutenberg.net/license). many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of lids now and glanced across at his visitor. figure." "What then?" chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination Again Holmes raved in the air. But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "ARAT," I read. mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "That is possible." tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "Yes." "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every most interesting one." passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a this Miss Turner." it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the conduct the inquiry." "How did you trace it, then?" to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I