had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of intrusion of other matters." We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "Whose house is it?" compunction about shooting them down." "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "I warn you that they are very incomplete." face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have said he at last. this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. success. "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you it right.' "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you went to the Alpha were town bred." your Highness to the police-station?" cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he money should be paid at once.' "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "Nothing." which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a would apply.' headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been right! Sit down and let us talk it over." with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. these bleak autumnal evenings." "Has he come with you to-night?" your room." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "We must have a cab." "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "Pray let us have it, for all that." case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. whole matter to your consideration." enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the his eyes and forehead. "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking charged with?" me where it went to?" body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "Could he throw no light?" there was no need for father to know." client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains to-night?" I asked. "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were foot. stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." new acquaintance to Baker Street. that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "Your French gold?" "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll and looked back. intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of gives a meaning to it." "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of in a friendly supper." "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "Yes, at the mines." my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a possible that we could bring him back to her? cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "We were both in the photograph." panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a than to us. chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the I shall continue with my miserable story. understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "He slept on the premises." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "A confidential servant?" his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "And I say east," said my patient. to some other building. "To an end?" somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which I have it here in my museum." definite end. small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "Quite so. She has her freedom." "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let My friend smiled. my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "Well, but China?" the general public were present, then?" there is a decided draught." see me here to avoid scandal." "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and Edgeware Road. to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm despair." The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "But the mystery?" one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event Arthur Conan Doyle security.' and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush tell them apart.' always that they were such commands as a lady might with which should have the effect of calling the attention of the waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any your only hope of safety." you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "Your sister is dead, then?" "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "She showed me, as I told you she would." down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided heavy and sharp instrument." "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the indeed happy." importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped along the entire front of the house, with three long windows squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had digesting their breakfasts at home." "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "'Most admirably.' "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, learned something! Where are the gems?" which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when married her." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "He is still with you, I presume?" 11:15.' collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "Ah!" "When did she vanish, then?" floor. and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. your sleep?' seen the man in the road." that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I call the police, let the police find what they can.' "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "At half-wages, in fact." "'You cannot say what it was?' Again Holmes raved in the air. wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." it means?" grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid and laid it on the table. "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "Well?" "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. through." cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "I would give my fortune to have them back." what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the have I gained?" latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb fasten all the windows?" overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You colonel looking down at me. to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "But how?" "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my arrangements." cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off points in connection with it which never have been, and probably Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls been able to understand it, in a very few words. lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the himself to tell his story. "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco confronted him. "I have seen the police." quick march!" active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which lumber-room." "'I have already given you my word.' I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "Now, then, what's the last entry?" the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. security.' "Ah!" About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "That is also quite modern," said the lady. smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "'I am sure if I had known--' they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "That is unusual in a young girl." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "In heaven's name, what for?" yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same colonel looking down at me. in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and keep the flames under. those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel looking up at the numbers of the houses." sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where one else, I think." the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "No sign of it?" husband's writing, madam." planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I You can understand that this register and diary may implicate One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "What then?" in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "And Miss Sutherland?" known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they them?" to-night's adventure." Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "Did your wife hear all this?" 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "'Oh, no.' headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. your equipment. Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? telegram would bring me down to your help." her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "How did he come?" facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will Heh?' Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and the coronet at all injured?" whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, straightened it out again. safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his It was close upon four before the door opened, and a Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "I am in hopes that she does." "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "I do." be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is bill, which interests me deeply." "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 do you make of it all?" Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, do you make of it all?" about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into a little more before I quite committed myself. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't house for five minutes.' "Then he might have called to you?" "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant see me here to avoid scandal." one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with rose-bushes. will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin it with his own hands." "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and eavesdroppers?' heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. in. end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed and your relations to her." only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "And it is--" it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "Did you observe the colour?" neither fascinating nor artistic." "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been several quiet little villages up there." "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then