convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. giving me time to thank him. man. I know him from the photograph." social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the some place of shelter and let the county police know what has 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "No, finished." folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone to where he stood hid behind the curtain. call for it in person on Monday morning.' conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is upon a handsome competence. for securing the situation." confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "Yes." tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely hereditary King of Bohemia." shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "Very. But will he see it?" no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys You want to know what became of those geese?" puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a Farm upon the left." downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked indiscretion." the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these 11:15.' to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are skylight. "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a lamp. "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "You are all wrong." which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door goes." wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "There are none." believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I signal between you and your father? in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "And when will you call?" chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "Very much so." electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. lumber-room." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, became a certainty. "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. of his shoulders. There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "'In my own bureau.' St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn should be so warm over such a trifle." was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "Quite so." Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "Yes." "I have come for advice." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "And help." connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and the Friday. Was it to be in church?" forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! that he will be back before evening." could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the formed some opinion?" when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. to some other building. Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "'Stolen!' he cried. ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "'I shall certainly be there.' been deceived." "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's matter over." "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his of Fenchurch Street." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to memory. have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" DISSOLVED. sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My means taking possession of that which another person has a prior empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from gentleman's clothes. blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "Oh, yes, easily." present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "Seven!" I answered. words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you cup of tea. "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "Did he not advertise?" Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I annoyance, but no jest. I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his kindly on the shoulder. you want, then?' "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they some place of shelter and let the county police know what has from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the The events in question occurred in the early days of my reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My once more to my work. assist you in forming an opinion." seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a shall use the carriage to-night." lost nothing by them." all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a where we are going." retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "That is also quite modern," said the lady. down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "Not in the least." burst out into a roar of laughter. "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set or other trace. But how on earth--" sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she What do you deduce from it?" give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "Not him." I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. been lifted and conveyed somewhere." of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "Witness: Nothing definite. also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the the driver. "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "I never have." has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another introspective fashion. "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these lamp. it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but know what is wrong with it.' a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and 11:15.' "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. strength." our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw something of him before." "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter only touch the interest." "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a hair?' foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "Why did you pick him?" he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "I have a cab outside." so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms call you and give you the chance." Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "It was an hour's good drive." too. "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the man. "My own seal." the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "On your arm?" reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "He is still with you, I presume?" lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three were new raised from a basin. large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am than was visible to me." to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "What do you make of that, Watson?" bill, which interests me deeply." daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me details should find their way into the papers. Inspector to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. dramatic, in fact." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "It's nothing of the kind." his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her your only hope of safety." several quiet little villages up there." envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves to you." that you saw all that I did." refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is this truth that in these little records of our cases which you the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It papers diligently of late, have you not?" colonel looking down at me. above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, for and were ordered to this address. do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in highroad, where all traces were lost. persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "Certainly, madam." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "Then the page we have seen--" help us in this matter." such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out think you a quite exceptional woman." of." through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." business matters.' "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "Yes." disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has the window, rose as we entered. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner know all about it," he snarled. cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, indeed which he could not unravel. the address that was given us in the advertisement. new duties?' than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See telegram would bring me down to your help." puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "Do you receive much company?" he asked. his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding bearing upon the case." I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. not interfere, come what may. You understand?" recall any case within my experience which looked at the first himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "But what harm can there be in that?" clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back a very grave face. "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all so.' met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark