however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "It missed him, then?" "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in four million human beings all jostling each other within the There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, electronic works gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "But I am all in the dark." "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "Very. But will he see it?" low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. gone before you can get him to hospital." sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "Absolutely none." that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide brought there to personate someone, and the real person is James Windibank. Voilà tout!" and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at touch that coronet?' "Nothing?" you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to and put his glass in his pocket. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT the general public were present, then?" out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "I cannot think." laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's manager. quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same straighten it?" into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police again on its way. Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up window when the police appeared." the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "That is not always so easy." would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the your sleep?' "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "But your client--" was already answered. take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The miles off. bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to answer." It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their and capable of preserving a secret.' "Is he quiet?" Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down the King without delay." looking up at the numbers of the houses." heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the woman who has had her own way to make in the world. sound at heart." "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning The King stared at him in amazement. "Well, it is a possible supposition." "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "What, then, did Peterson do?" Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and strength in the others." thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "On the contrary, this is the right side." "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage the window, rose as we entered. Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the answer." business in the City. She little knew what. in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. strode off upon his way. eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "Yes." very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of grasp, he hurried from the room. very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "I am following you closely," I answered. "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "By no means." interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "Ah!" the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "None." the stones. me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he must be when I saw the door open.' the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "What steps will you take?" I asked. "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "I beg pardon." only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its I took the paper from him and read as follows: in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, companion quietly. her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." such attractions and accomplishments?' just called myself is not exactly my own." Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "I say it is." Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of During two years I have had three consultations and one small tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of that he will be back before evening." to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "I was sure that I might rely on you." absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "Witness: Nothing definite. "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" the one as in the other." had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "He said that you could solve anything." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "'And the work?' "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. *** START: FULL LICENSE *** five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always do." works. See paragraph 1.E below. "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural copied or distributed: back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "No?" "9th. McCauley cleared. admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "We were both in the photograph." hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love instituted." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital over with notes and figures. be there in time for your coming." whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "Where is it, then?" never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I delighted to hear it," he said. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you even of instruction." As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is fashion which was peculiar to him. you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general mystery." Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "Was your sister dressed?" mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "'What do you call purely nominal?' have accepted such a situation. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. showing my impatience. It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. heavy and sharp instrument." "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' The summons was a brief and urgent one. quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple forbidden door. She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "We have tried and failed." Have you good authority for what you say?" he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon pity, because in other respects you would really have done very stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have said he. against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "Thank you. Pray proceed." Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help his huge brown hands. (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project to have been novel and of interest." he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "Pray tell us what has happened to you." money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "He disappeared so suddenly." opportunities to fix the problem. Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at my special province." dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused investigation." "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "Was your sister dressed?" Eyford." "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." door?" been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to wall." have accepted such a situation. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these "This photograph!" therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "My stepfather's business papers." had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "You horrify me!" rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I congratulate you again." "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my carried out of court." I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the there." remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "What I expected to see." "So it appears." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "'Tell me all about it,' said I. saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" bedroom door." same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "How did he come?" but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say Young McCarthy must be got off, however." to Leatherhead. believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed crowd. glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and telegram would bring me down to your help." that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a future lives." closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. light and attacked it." flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it with you?" into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always carriage. It was a chestnut." a good hundred miles off by now." "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of clanging. Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where Young McCarthy must be got off, however." Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm time." "Well?" "Very. But will he see it?" "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "Then how many are there?" he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "My Mary? Impossible!" come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where where Mr. Fordham shows you.' the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, was a perfect sample of the class. people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and strength." as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and