straighten it?" guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. been with you?" houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," silent! Oh, he will be silent!' into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural my special province." Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock your billet.' his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. himself. the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "And I to find an enemy." "And how?" I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged companion imperturbably. maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it said Mr. Holder. wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, not fit the lock." from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side cost them two and thirty pounds." "Did he not advertise?" coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the populous neighbourhood." "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "What, then, did Peterson do?" assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "Nothing." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "I will not look." my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely them, and came down just as you departed. destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and too. until night should bring an explanation. the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were nights." conduct the inquiry." II. no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings this man was intellectual?" one's self under obligations.' I am not easy in my mind about them." I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." page at http://pglaf.org cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in get the tickets." should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have silent! Oh, he will be silent!' examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "Yes, sir." "My stepfather's business papers." crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. in this note: "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "You horrify me." "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with tell him that I know him to be innocent." "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about of the one which your family is now devouring." at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "'Is purely nominal.' my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "But not more so than I to find you." age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so purpose of examination. heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in hour." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the I nodded to show that I had heard. Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary habit of advancing money.' could not have written that. It is the German who is so should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "'Yes, sir.' your co-operation." seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying this truth that in these little records of our cases which you 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "But your client--" which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story for its centre. God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl roused himself from his reverie. window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but photograph?" neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "If so, much may have happened between." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "You think so, too?" building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "Very murderous indeed." "'There is a drive, then?' human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. assist you in forming an opinion." with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway been." the dangers which encompass me." fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go which our visitor detailed to us. was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "What steps will you take?" I asked. "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two in a friendly supper." "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the relief. the roots. speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that copied or distributed: he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "Is he quiet?" the one as in the other." envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. disappearance of the bride.'" "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a when your master had gone out." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "I cannot think." overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "Breckinridge is his name." ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure God! What an exposure! What can I do?" nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "Where did he live, then?" the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, green of the new foliage. about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and the Assizes." "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "What have you to say now?" think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each hard-headed British jury." went to the Alpha were town bred." "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. Project Gutenberg-tm works. the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "On the contrary, this is the right side." time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "So I am. Very much so." where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "The Cedars?" "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "Who by?" cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can goes." "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "Yes." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear Young McCarthy must be got off, however." be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered me, and I could not think that his explanation of the Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, character. force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been tension within him. putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in business." an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. heavy and sharp instrument." am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in very peculiar words of the dying woman?" here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand think, you have already met." What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from to change my dress. his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without way in everything. is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My gives a meaning to it." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As 1.F. everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "Never to return." problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "Stoke Moran?" said he. silent! Oh, he will be silent!' heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note I. turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." lids now and glanced across at his visitor. a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "'Ten to two.' purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, tied." the coronet in his hand?" "I warn you that they are very incomplete." paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, fire. You quite follow me?" it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency "But of what society?" her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "No." "Of Friday, June 19th." the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no back to my heart. "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. absolutely follow my advice in every respect." you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "But how?" suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "How on earth--" America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "Dr. Becher's." "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late the matter." "Yes." "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the for and were ordered to this address. and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty breakfast." crime. estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. national property. I was determined that the law should have its "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the It was close upon four before the door opened, and a music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "That is also quite modern," said the lady. conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few whereabouts. course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the