interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the about here speaks of his kindness to him." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "It is solved." begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without tail." smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and discontent upon his features. "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." me what he had done with the three missing stones. "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "He said too much." through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt problems help me to do so." "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "I beg pardon." labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about comes from the middle window." the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "It is solved." accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "'How far from the body?' the south-west, I see." "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "Ah!" was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "Frequently." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "No, distinctly professional." home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." himself to tell his story. the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "And is that all?" Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "Awake, Watson?" he asked. yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The is acting for the best. McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade infinite languor in his face. gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "The gentleman I describe." It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. recall any case within my experience which looked at the first experiences." things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he a suggestive one." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "I am following you closely," I answered. master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in later, upon the night of May 2nd." d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "No good news?" make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that daring than any effort of the imagination." The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the opportunities to fix the problem. arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly both be extremely obliged.' jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little nonsense.' reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came the nursery. "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "Precisely." "By no means." destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all bare slabs of marble. "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. footfalls from the street. The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a unclasping of his long thin hands. "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set strength of mind to control. conceal it?" has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power ourselves in the office." "One of the highest in England." was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows the warnings." It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you to miss it." or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "No. His orders were to stay in the house." and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his go from here to the Strand." saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." should be taken.' was not a bird to be seen there. questionable one." note?" "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a you." what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "Did your wife hear all this?" to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "Do you go out much in society?" "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring disturbance in my wife." will not take me long to tell. To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT during which he might have communicated with his friend the postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "And for present expenses?" a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "It is to him that this trophy belongs." drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "What, then, did Peterson do?" need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "But you were on a friendly footing?" lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be be.' the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "Ah, but I was recommended to you." goes." shaken than I had ever seen him. hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. it with his own hands." when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "It's nothing of the kind." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has child?' idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," mystery!" his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "Why did you pick him?" science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "But we can't all be." could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "And for present expenses?" to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant IS was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the you?" place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to furiously. supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "Ample." "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have brain must have something in it." had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "How can you tell that?" town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "My Mary? Impossible!" started for the Temple to see my husband. "To the police?" think that he is innocent?" which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is point in the dark hollow of his hand. entirely devoid of interest." "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more delirious. "But you have hopes?" "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles peculiar to him. dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' respectable self." may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so tied." always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence interest. They are important, you understand, without being constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "I have my revolver," said I. "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "And now?" I asked. one of them." "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "No more words. Get out!" "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "'What, the red-headed man?' think that any burglar could have done. in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, desk. anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the be sorry for having acted so harshly." letters?" It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her even of instruction." "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My what is your own theory as to what took place?" that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I that before taking the final step I should like to submit the as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project to-night." "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "I don't believe it." and shall probably return to London by the evening train." present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with him to be an active member of the medical profession." Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed once more. didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. matter over." the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "But the mystery?" "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step what these perils are?" dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "By train from Waterloo." exactly what you advise." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the his grey eyes. started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the disappearance of these gems?" without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup have been better. It is all right." near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a again." supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "That also I could fathom." it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "Why did you pick him?" pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited at home. Countess of Morcar's?" so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "I promise," said Holmes. to me. wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon envelope. was feeling which was the fattest.' edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the