prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "'I have heard so.' that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "It is possible." "Where did he live, then?" "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the down in his armchair and closing his eyes. McCarthy's innocence. from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to purpose equally well?" to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very The telegram which we eventually received came late one night dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "Yes, there are nearly always some there." entirely lost his self-respect." "No." him nearly every evening." matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "And is that all?" who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. not within a twentieth part of the market price." "But what is it you wish?" My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which II. suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "Certainly." through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the respectable self." "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project fatally injured? the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the States. I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "And how have you succeeded?" system of imprisonment?" "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness feature." corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were you came in." tell him that I know him to be innocent." hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "I am all attention, madam." photograph a cabinet?" the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the himself in a perplexing position. directors, with the result that you have seen." going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "What! You do not mean bodies?" at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "A greater distance to travel." head. So long, then!" The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating such person." not come at once?" pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been whatever might befall. "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some possible that we could bring him back to her? "I am sure." eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number observed. sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was second window is the one that I jumped from." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "What of the rat, then?" Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to ill-usage at the hands of fortune. death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and neither fascinating nor artistic." have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, compunction about shooting them down." "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point place of silver." well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her in him." stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which exactly what you advise." key of the affair now." again." Munro.' "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "I cannot say that I have." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the upon the sideboard." 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the she has been waylaid. There has been no result." here." "By all means." One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "Here?" part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "Dirty?" the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "And sit in the dark?" value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. for and were ordered to this address. in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "But you would not advise me to refuse?" mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a writers could invent nothing more crude." "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "Yes." a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all past. companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different is four-and-twenty." "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "This concluded the examination of the witness." however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were becomes even more simple." I shall continue with my miserable story. the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever I was concerned in it." and have this put in the evening papers." Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. results." hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "Where, then?" was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "That you are never beaten." eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "The doctor?" this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, here and I will read it to you: sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning light and attacked it." heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this must compliment you." only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "My photograph." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my During two years I have had three consultations and one small his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "Precisely." analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger interest. They are important, you understand, without being impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "None." "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you that he has suffered." blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" might help us?" Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out which our visitor detailed to us. my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a ago." which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told seen the man in the road." was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "And why in hopes?" sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep delighted to hear it," he said. suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and invisible to me," I remarked. some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the into her hand at the door and which lured her within their business?" "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally when your master had gone out." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "Quite so. She has her freedom." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "And it is--" "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "None." "I cannot imagine." Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and and all of them with the keenest interest. fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "What, then, did Peterson do?" "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is the side-table." hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could the Friday. Was it to be in church?" *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." wedding?" morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was happened." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" views." one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "I am sure." into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "'And what are they worth?' I asked. branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a wife's character?" Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "Was she in good spirits?" "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "Then you may be so with me." he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. to where he stood hid behind the curtain. find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We dramatic, in fact." it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "It surprised me." Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! question. "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked not within a twentieth part of the market price." glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "In what way?" asked Holmes. police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in these bleak autumnal evenings." The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." the side-table." "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. IS don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his deduce something from that?" "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should maid will bring up your coffee." hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." horse could go." "In which, sir?" "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "How did he come?" way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being not interfere, come what may. You understand?" she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "And leave your case unfinished?" fait accompli?" impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "But how?" circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "No." of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "Then you may be so with me." "Never." "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "Well, it is a possible supposition." Street. the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare acted in my house last night?" "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. annoyance, but no jest. do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "But not more so than I to find you." I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to it were putty." "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it points to suicide?" "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is them?" "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with in a friendly supper." were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. Stoke Moran." to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "I cannot tell." sufficient punishment." As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "Thank you. And your address?" work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 some mystery and the punishment of some crime." for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, that I am arrested." "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, it." "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "What! Had he lost his wife?" is so. I know all about McCarthy." "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently,