wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's careless servant girl?" shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed been able to understand it, in a very few words. the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "What have you done?" asked Holmes. in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "Did he not advertise?" read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in security.' "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and appointment with me for six o'clock?" wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria chance at all." a room. not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "In what way?" asked Holmes. surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would about here speaks of his kindness to him." and the church but not where the lady lived." Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. how narrow had been my escape. Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "Perhaps I have." what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking there when the Rucastles went away." of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire business at Coburg Square is serious." of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a details should find their way into the papers. Inspector and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you for its centre. description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, seven miles from Eyford Station.' bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "But not more so than I to find you." the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "Why, it's a dummy," said he. of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the assist you in forming an opinion." Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "I think that I had better go, Holmes." has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, residence of the great financier. buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon place, I think that there is good ground to think that the from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "Will you go?" "Perhaps we may make them less so." awaited us upon the table. Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any learned something! Where are the gems?" She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end public press." "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would knowledge of the world." beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "Nothing." the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, you." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be for the market.' life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys to tell." compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, bonnet, and went out." "'Yes, I promise.' thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and your billet.' bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by never to learn it at all." Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the was a loud and authoritative tap. there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." strength of mind to control. of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently yards of it?' "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features fishes. finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic you understand?" of your young ladies.' The telegram which we eventually received came late one night can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot been shamefully used." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which their singular warning or token before them when starting upon shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a closing the door. sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself just called myself is not exactly my own." tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all chance at all." story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see their singular warning or token before them when starting upon Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the help us in this matter." some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, once more to my work. The police have openly confessed that they can at present make solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "It certainly sounds feasible." Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "Yes, it would be as well." "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram the night.' threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." 11:15.' with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "None." a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. you do it in twenty minutes!' "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an becomes even more simple." recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a you." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "'I have heard so.' "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "'A dozen yards or so.' the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "I am about to be married." them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them man. I know him from the photograph." himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had 'please.'" of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a that, and I came down." I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man Doctor, of the paper and the date." reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then signal between you and your father? "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from of campaign. like that before?" caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his stalked out of the room. fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. as noiselessly as she had come. that the gas is not laid on in his house?" disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "It certainly sounds feasible." "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. danger is over." the coronet at all injured?" pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "He said that you could solve anything." certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the case-book, which he consulted. a good hundred miles off by now." "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the populous neighbourhood." on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "And is that all?" little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the deduce something from that?" - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must very old mansion. At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "Frequently." the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. room?" is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "Yesterday." It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. be best to do. of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk was once confined in the cab my mission was practically lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came his face. in the port of London." "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" purpose equally well?" with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be galvanised. should be so warm over such a trifle." over part of the map. "What do you read?" "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "Nothing?" there were so many in the whole country as were brought together over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a matter." It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' I held the little printed slip to the light. "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "Get out!" said he. heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. mystery." of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance the Red-headed League." agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come there when the Rucastles went away." "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "Where did he live, then?" read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there to you." temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "My Mary? Impossible!" usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "How often?" receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "So I have heard." severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend the morning and make my own way in the world.' "You saw the ventilator, too?" Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the in the port of London." the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have make me his representative both with the servants and with the "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. you." particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day