act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you in your London, you will know that the office of the company is the window, rose as we entered. events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned of the one which your family is now devouring." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, call you and give you the chance." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away point in the dark hollow of his hand. them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "I am in hopes that she does." "What will you say?" We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the introspective fashion. will he say when he returns?" "No." waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For very old mansion. It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "Yes, he did." would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, particular state visit http://pglaf.org of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to that before taking the final step I should like to submit the who was a member of your goose club." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of "And what did you see?" him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "The decline of his fortunes, then?" prove to be little relation between the different incidents of friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or joking. "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant investigation." any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are The note was undated, and without either signature or address. twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, death." me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "'I have heard so.' man. I know him from the photograph." wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce in this note: hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the photograph?" "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "Oh, the cause is excellent!" you want, then?' "But I am all in the dark." *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "Yes." that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "I am sure." and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, that you saw all that I did." upon the shelf for the interim." moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "'I am sure if I had known--' list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you room had already been engaged for us. fluttered off among the others. and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be everything which you would wish to know." Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "I answered that I had not. detained." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with Eyford." will he say when he returns?" hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "And for present expenses?" see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the Mary, has deserted me." returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp to-night's adventure." violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "I saw her in conversation with her maid." vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said quickly through a disagreeable task. week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no woven round him. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the strength of mind to control. on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, pity, because in other respects you would really have done very sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily said I. here and I will read it to you: beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which your room." Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "You are hungry," I remarked. shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have cup of tea. attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "If I can be of use." surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you you came in." silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the the night.' Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of I was concerned in it." dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "Holmes, the busybody!" where she found matters as described by the last witness. "'Oh, no.' effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "To an end?" "But what will you do?" to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive murdered man." came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "I say that I have solved it." slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "None." any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very again before evening." "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the stalked out of the room. into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. questioning and rather startled gaze. first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was the little opening for the ventilator is." indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. more terrible than the truth. this remarkable episode. air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. Project Gutenberg-tm works. "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so and capable of preserving a secret.' "Have you it here?" observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my tell me that you intended to go into harness." Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "Stolen." "You have but to name it." the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated prepare for the new role I have to play." misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." stalked out of the room. lost nothing by them." He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether keep the flames under. father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then open." the ceiling. think that any burglar could have done. "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in had formerly been in part my own. stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his suspect him." succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age problems help me to do so." space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their compunction about shooting them down." sooner or later she must fall a victim. America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by and have this put in the evening papers." "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "Was your sister dressed?" infinite languor in his face. mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive helping a boy to put up the shutters. the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and was feeling which was the fattest.' "My stepfather's business papers." room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We in this note: "But how?" freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, woman." forbidden door. "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "Married! When?" forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "Very much so." problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall empty. dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its out of this horrible affair." "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. within hail.' companion. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the second." of." which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. habit of advancing money.' "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "It surprised me." luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will me what he had done with the three missing stones. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the a monotonous occupation." drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That mystery may be cleared along those lines." know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could been anything against him. He had for years been known as a there in twenty minutes." law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at me what he had done with the three missing stones. "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "And your father? Did you tell him?" Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." other lovers by making love himself." "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows ago." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low hereditary King of Bohemia." time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out true." the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "Yes, the wine-cellar." of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is returned to France?" B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, experiences." more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "That's no good." turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "What can it mean?" I gasped. neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "What, then, did Peterson do?" about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then populous neighbourhood." To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the friend's singular character. "It was a confession," I ejaculated. his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of subject to the trademark license, especially commercial The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "So I heard. You have him here?" and no precautions can guard against." the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were have accepted such a situation. signal between you and your father? common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but without success. At last the little money which I had saved began years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "I would give my fortune to have them back." seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "'Yes, it was gone.' again before evening." whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his a little more before I quite committed myself. left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "Where is it, then?" "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him "I think it very unlikely." It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler status with the IRS.