thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend which I could not give. He asked for Alice. his face. father's place of business?" "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City delirious. quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. new acquaintance to Baker Street. 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of three of the beryls in it, was missing. black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "My Mary? Impossible!" dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "Stolen." case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the dear old homesteads?" sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "Yes, they were peculiar boots." salesman. fuss that is made over them." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "What do you mean?" music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for papers must be those that are destroyed.' maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in and wait." of it with the greatest attention. "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must one's self under obligations.' revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when throat." gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great me upon any point which I do not make clear." of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington better grown goose." ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt tell them apart.' "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will as the one I chose?' newspaper selections." "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "A client, then?" smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "What have you done?" asked Holmes. me, and I could not think that his explanation of the slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "And now?" He raised his hand. "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an tightly behind him. away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the any little problem which you may submit to me." He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "I promise," said Holmes. upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' you do it in twenty minutes!' have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just crowd. the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. long narrative. salesman. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by must be when I saw the door open.' that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "It is solved." lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' case before our client came into the room." salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and them present such singular features as the strange train of "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "No." weighed down with some great anxiety. girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an could go. He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few front of the hall door has given its name to the place. prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "What can you not understand?" Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter south, for the country is more deserted there." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson derbies." correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, be.' and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "Her father is very rich?" "Perhaps I have." his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to observed. array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell strength of mind to control. observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might existence." "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had hand, madam?" and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the his grey eyes. "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet round and wave him away like that.' brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "Dr. Becher's." family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." were wasted." centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "Certainly, madam." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "Pray let us have it, for all that." neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "My photograph." human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that to-night's adventure." compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any little trying to do so much typewriting?" and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. DAMAGE. examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to sit on the left-hand side of the driver." has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "Upon what point?" of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled as he remarks, very much against the son." hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel correct than the official force." drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "It goes to the housekeeper's room." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he and the whole place is in a blaze." feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" for securing the situation." rat could hardly pass through." corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel any little problem which you may submit to me." whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "She walked into the breakfast-room." scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are never to learn it at all." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "Then I do not see the point." 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "So it appears." property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "I am all attention, madam." eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which Young McCarthy must be got off, however." a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." showing my impatience. such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "I think that it is very probable." which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." your own bird, so if you wish--" stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a few hundred pounds.' have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in companion imperturbably. "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the and effective." the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the The police have openly confessed that they can at present make present." conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon depend upon your compliance." such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. joking. Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "I never have." She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. cup of tea. slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was ways of our fellow-men." Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, of campaign. exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," than was visible to me." the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and sneer upon his pale face. pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced remarked. "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over that, and I came down." "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a the stable lane now." firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "But his left-handedness." she slowly sank and died without having recovered her which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "Certainly." both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. lips." started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the brain must have something in it." "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind charge against him will break down." "Breckinridge is his name." burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "'I have heard so.' "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "One?" states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." you came in." figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The morning." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." nonsense.' Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle been shamefully used." "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all one which it was hard to resist. "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "Game for a morning drive?" unclasping of his long thin hands. "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he fat-encircled eyes. finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the anything to do with the matter?" "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must business?" scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing You can understand that this register and diary may implicate although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have bearing upon the case." see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the past. It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "It is true that I have been generally successful." Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." colonel looking down at me. iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the and laid it on the table. "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was straighten it?" discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among most important business. It is probable that he will be away all reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions good-night and bustled off upon her way. remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be three of the beryls in it, was missing. "You horrify me!" smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." gbnewby@pglaf.org