locked." It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a test if we have an answer to our advertisement." these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "But you were on a friendly footing?" pierced for earrings?" will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, visitors." which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he searched, without anything being found which could incriminate me. You must get home instantly and act." as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "'And the work?' the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "I think that it is very probable." red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "Did your wife hear all this?" "At the wedding breakfast." little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been was once confined in the cab my mission was practically almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "So it appears." "The Cedars?" all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "A thing like a cleaver," said he. the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER lips." "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so tightly behind him. And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? success. 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I outbreak?" "What then?" building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady redistribution. "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I the iron safe, which he closed upon it. and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you coroner's jury." shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a address. or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a Arthur Conan Doyle all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of way in everything. fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, such attractions and accomplishments?' and put his glass in his pocket. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "You are certainly joking, Holmes." grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of her also." certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "But I am all in the dark." previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them the little opening for the ventilator is." When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "'Then let me do so?' "Holmes, the busybody!" her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons the salesman. a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "Could he throw no light?" The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you families. Now for the facts. Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "And now?" He raised his hand. of the efforts of the United States government and of the better memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of fire. You quite follow me?" Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I to surprise her." "Certainly." the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "About a month then." that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do said he. distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "On the contrary, this is the right side." "So I am. Very much so." "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." mystery!" ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "How did that help you?" with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and Surrey." remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "How about poison?" us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in affection." grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "How on earth--" to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in there were so many in the whole country as were brought together Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "And what then?" ordinary clothes on?" yards of it?' "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "Dark enough and sinister enough." to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "Get out!" said he. wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" row." relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "What! Had he lost his wife?" coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on could go. very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." to that open window." very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me him and tried to hold him back. "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "To the police?" there in twenty minutes." husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had said I. interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "Do you go out much in society?" "Never." "How are you getting on?" heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "What is it, then--a fire?" forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then papers on the sundial.'" not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "What is it, then--a fire?" before the coroner and the police-court." fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was of Fenchurch Street." "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was official police." don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted bearing upon the case." any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is absorbing." of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "But his left-handedness." am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." and the whole place is in a blaze." in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "Is he quiet?" "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very and all of them with the keenest interest. watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "'Where to?' upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled key of the affair now." at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "Not particularly." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "Why, it's a dummy," said he. return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" Literary Archive Foundation that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to for and were ordered to this address. future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "No, but the enclosure is." The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? me upon any point which I do not make clear." "I am to be neutral?" tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked rooms." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, seem to you to be relevant or not." "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the chill to my heart. particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "Has he come with you to-night?" "That is it on the dressing-table." questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "He said that you could solve anything." sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the strength of mind to control. their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "Frequently." could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly that he has suffered." I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "You think that he is dead?" awkward doing business with an alias." battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "'Stolen!' he cried. been deceived." "Stolen, then." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "Of Friday, June 19th." a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." other, as fresh and trim as possible. herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "I should wish to." wedding?" material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking digesting their breakfasts at home." contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and laugh and put his lips to my ear. the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a bell. Holmes whistled. the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "A call for help, you thought?" question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony someone who had been in Australia." snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she ventilator." be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. if she died from some sudden fright." as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS of the efforts of the United States government and of the better after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want the King without delay." the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "It is solved." purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." shall not find me ungrateful." passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "Bought." but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the his wife has ceased to love him." "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" and it need not interfere very much with one's other "The murder was done with it." "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "Yes, only one." call for it in person on Monday morning.' have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "And did you observe any change in her then?" "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "A thing like a cleaver," said he. than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my "Then I shall certainly come." "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "'And the work?' registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "We were both in the photograph." "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of "The doctor?" leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "Oh, the cause is excellent!" was a loud and authoritative tap. "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you fuss that is made over them." desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter my special province." the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he name is different." gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I thin legs towards the fire. came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "Perhaps we may make them less so." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "And that is--" quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to question. suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most kindly on the shoulder. entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "Witness: I must still refuse. common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for conclusions. two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in open." incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent people in all walks of life. "I have hopes." Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "Stolen." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "My dear Holmes!" that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had open." difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to "I cannot think." planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "I am all attention, madam." from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in opened a pocket-book and took out a note. the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary ill-usage at the hands of fortune. of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum believe that I should never have any practice at all. in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss and the church but not where the lady lived." in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid and no precautions can guard against." you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." both be extremely obliged.' crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It populous neighbourhood." "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single as the one I chose?' conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a problems help me to do so." A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of said he, "my real name is James Ryder." 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know this as likely?" We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "This photograph!" self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and him, that man would not have given me such complete information out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This his face. Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put