daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "Yes." electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf figure." "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "Yes, certainly." deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me it." "No bad?" "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "I shall be delighted." a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "I don't believe it." for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say became a certainty. "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. could not have written that. It is the German who is so snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "No." have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "Perhaps I have." "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "I am still in the dark." was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day one or two very singular points about this room. For example, Mrs. Toller serenely. very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more a very grave face. however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood for and were ordered to this address. saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "His face fell immediately. surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "Were they all fastened this morning?" on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "What will you say?" the driver. about. round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "To an end?" side. stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "It missed him, then?" clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "And help." photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the families. Now for the facts. "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "One of the highest in England." practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. back alive. wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "Not I." tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I passage and a tap at the door. "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." McCarthy." destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "What do you make of that, Watson?" wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture asked. which I could not give. He asked for Alice. agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella grasp, he hurried from the room. heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "Then, as to money?" look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out served to weaken the effect. beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very all?" directors have had misgivings upon the subject." It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love here." "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. him to go away.' was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" been." she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be emerged. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and was lame." offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "'And the work?' "I will, Miss Turner." "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran written. "Witness: It was. you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's advice." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the rooms." I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall not, dad?" she asked. legal crime." "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. man. said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the experiences." was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was begun to whiten, even as mine has." "One?" the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough you found me to-night--and running through the front room she hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "'About the same.' And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "Yes." with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "What steps will you take?" I asked. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "How often?" struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change criminal. We have already had experience of such." was feeling which was the fattest.' as he folded up the epistle. of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well once more on the important position which you have been fortunate prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "Bought." following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the geese which you supplied to the Alpha." wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "Nor running a chance of arrest?" who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "No, distinctly professional." present strange and interesting features that it is no easy Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the to a light-house. "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "Breckinridge is his name." burst into a hearty fit of laughter. should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke fishes. snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If spare." true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "I would pay ten." "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "Yes, it was twisted." other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried never will be, entirely cleared up. "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is you give your casting vote to?" north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "'Tell me all about it,' said I. you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, introspective fashion. had a long day." presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the once more on the important position which you have been fortunate doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it client, rising. but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, to a light-house. tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to bill, which interests me deeply." held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "And Irene Adler?" something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "Pray do so." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of been able to understand it, in a very few words. down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to there has been an enclosure here!" beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her meant." determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab in your London, you will know that the office of the company is companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local the inner apartment." "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of even so self-evident a thing as that." are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "What is it?" presented more singular features than that which was associated the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "'I am sure that I do not know.' "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "That also I could fathom." "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me have got?" sound at heart." that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very fluttered off among the others. weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' the night.' Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "Yes." sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of Cross for the Continent." dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken matter over." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor other means.' feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy might have a private word with us. schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless unprofitable." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which of the efforts of the United States government and of the better observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know delighted to hear it," he said. anything to a woman, for she would have her way." red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a three of the beryls in it, was missing. began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had any more." quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I back into the street. endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper paper in the air. you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save outbreak?" inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "My Mary? Impossible!" "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all future lives." was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in important." with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came money should be paid at once.' which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be such person." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of cause to be." some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many if she died from some sudden fright." "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out looking up at the numbers of the houses." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "Of Friday, June 19th." in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "You are certainly joking, Holmes." had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "'Certainly not. But why?' takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an miles off. "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "No, I had a dozen." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with of receipt of the work. happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of weigh very heavily upon my conscience." where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a interested in these little problems, and since you are good without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so the general public were present, then?" "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in assist you in forming an opinion." 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already plantation.' open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "A confidential servant?" Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my