and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name ourselves in the office." very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "Was he the only applicant?" back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "Who by?" of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon prisoner's face. will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, past. clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which use an arc-and-compass breastpin." vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know are, I think, all that we need." Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting ordinary clothes on?" "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "Come in!" said Holmes. in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "Is he quiet?" have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "Entirely." stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or shoulder; "he's all right." prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "A thing like a cleaver," said he. saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is fish-monger and a tide-waiter." about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "It certainly sounds feasible." say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I appointment with me for six o'clock?" judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "I cannot imagine." Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was already referred to. distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were something of him before." "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we ready to-morrow?' offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite crackling voice. by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "Was your sister dressed?" "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that washing it down with a long draught of water. slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "But you would not advise me to refuse?" gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, good for you to do.' "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "I say that I have solved it." of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "My own seal." "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "That you are never beaten." passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think despair." signal between you and your father? Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire was already answered. difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "By no means." out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. I. "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "Certainly." seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "I should wish to." observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, you for a few hours?" "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "'There is a drive, then?' there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "He is still with you, I presume?" it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark call for it in person on Monday morning.' purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "'Which dealer's?' "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "You heard nothing yourself last night?" the one as in the other." "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "He is still with you, I presume?" "'Which dealer's?' Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were them?" banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. one of the states of the Union." shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "Very. But will he see it?" from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after me." "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. back into the street. A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "Yes, it was twisted." "Yes, sir." the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. lost nothing by them." o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well ceremony." air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "Now, then, what's the last entry?" In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on disturbance in my wife." "Not particularly." "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this the Red-headed League." may never be exposed to such a temptation." advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause there is a decided draught." why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had them?" leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, ashen face. I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, could gather together that I was able to avert another public younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "And you can do nothing until then?" sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for tell me that you intended to go into harness." the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never overpowering excitement and concern. walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "And I." read it out to me." and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "Where to?" stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "Not yet." the matter?" all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of chill to my heart. Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so place, I think that there is good ground to think that the downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "You are certainly joking, Holmes." order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "Your presence might be invaluable." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried me what he had done with the three missing stones. The summons was a brief and urgent one. One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that always that they were such commands as a lady might with that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major that you can jump it.' it." have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him God! What an exposure! What can I do?" the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His you came in." was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "To an English lawyer named Norton." "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "'And what salary do you ask?' 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger furiously. lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for quite distinctive." "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, prison!" power." get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling chance at all." absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE that you." bedroom door." when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His trifles." "I would pay ten." seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end States. floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had where we are going." the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." companion quietly. "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "The vanishing of the lady." not use it unless it is absolutely needed." once more for Briony Lodge. said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "We must have a cab." which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "At what time?" goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you I nodded again. said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other III. "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my From what you have told me I think that it is possible that instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet been lifted and conveyed somewhere." flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly you?' which it had come upon my father." was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "In what way?" asked Holmes. the Assizes." "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive Surrey." Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third bare slabs of marble. cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the invisible to me," I remarked. this man was intellectual?" "Yes, it would be as well." my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open and that he would see to anything that turned up. toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method and the church but not where the lady lived." "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "Well." address. delighted to hear it," he said. relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with his eyes and forehead. drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It ran thus: the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "Pray do so." without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "Of what?" long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the II. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "How do you know, then?" beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was hour." like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten skylight. "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "'Ten to two.' Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her