repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he them, and came down just as you departed. still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in at home. business at Coburg Square is serious." "I will do it." "Will you bet, then?" deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "It is no ordinary one." safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them read it out to me." impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any 11:15.' were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "And now?" I asked. suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that present." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." for securing the situation." "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. constraint." "Witness: I must still refuse. the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "Two days later this same performance was gone through under the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "'Yes, sir.' "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with front of me. will take you up to see the machine.' you for a few hours?" Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from these bleak autumnal evenings." Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "It missed him, then?" conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "Certainly." see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "What?" very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All if I call to-morrow?" previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, them, and came down just as you departed. to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "Entirely." "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "What steps will you take?" I asked. gives a meaning to it." the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "'Not at all. I only doubt--' mysterious business." lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the voice. bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "I saw her in conversation with her maid." touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, on re-entering her father's house?" attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with some mystery and the punishment of some crime." copied or distributed: "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared me. You must get home instantly and act." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I lost his Christmas dinner." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his to go into your room and bar your shutters?" power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "What?" is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked if I call to-morrow?" know that the truth is known." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not Mary, has deserted me." prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place front of me. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing question," said Holmes, smiling. States. wife's character?" attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm in the port of London." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "Absolutely?" what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone begun to whiten, even as mine has." "You are hungry," I remarked. well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret chamber." transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "None. Neville wrote those words." "You horrify me!" promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "And what did you learn from him?" discontent upon his features. fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the the morning and make my own way in the world.' awaited us upon the table. comes from the middle window." had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent of the efforts of the United States government and of the better of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "No more words. Get out!" into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook she to prove their authenticity?" yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "But his lameness?" "And sit in the dark?" "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "It is no ordinary one." "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I him nearly every evening." o'clock is it?" paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to these bleak autumnal evenings." "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady him nearly every evening." and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a room had already been engaged for us. Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent lost his Christmas dinner." your most interesting statement." "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an door?" Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? presented which may be striking and bizarre without being Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "Ah!" however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of three of the beryls in it, was missing. presume?" Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "But of what society?" was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger think you a quite exceptional woman." seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. the date of his supposed suicide." "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, interested in these little problems, and since you are good "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations know what is wrong with it.' to arrive at through this?" himself. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be could not account in any way for the presence of the missing inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert most important business. It is probable that he will be away all stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the national property. I was determined that the law should have its from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He his fortune, and I went back to pa. fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the lumber-room." "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step them?" before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the other lovers by making love himself." homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "Then I do not see the point." "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have It was close upon four before the door opened, and a enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The distinguish the words: 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental John Swain, of St. Augustine. "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "'Where could I find him?' My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate newspaper selections." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that I took the paper from him and read as follows: subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "What!" he roared. "But she will refuse." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the Lee, in the county of Kent." prison!" in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who window when the police appeared." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "My own seal." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran and I shall be with you presently." held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a them present such singular features as the strange train of the armchair which I pushed forward for him. eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "Your presence might be invaluable." "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "And I." princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "But it has twice been burgled." soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work I am not easy in my mind about them." "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the simple cases which are so extremely difficult." have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you envelope. spare." days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' your Highness to the police-station?" Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "Then I do not see the point." directors, with the result that you have seen." sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were some city in a dream. about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and if only as a check to my own memory." that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "'Where to?' dramatic, in fact." Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "'Never,' said I. cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features this unhappy family?" London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the done what I asked you, Jones?" "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" Doctor, of the paper and the date." where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety who was a member of your goose club." the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the States. "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "At the wedding breakfast." call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to Street. part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "A confidential servant?" hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he Street. Leadenhall Street--and--" in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned,