"You were travelling in the States?" "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version the child." "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution already referred to. "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and foot. that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is Gutenberg-tm License. "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if page at http://pglaf.org introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you fat-encircled eyes. could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "Only as much as we can deduce." 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical himself to hunt down. our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for is acting for the best. and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found at my own good fortune. your billet.' sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. the nursery. Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there through." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "No." impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven telegram would bring me down to your help." "No bad?" (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a but preventing her from injuring another. "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my fashion which was peculiar to him. trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from photograph?" "She walked into the breakfast-room." seem to you to be relevant or not." was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more there has been an enclosure here!" stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular IS the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my in your London, you will know that the office of the company is Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "How did you deduce the select?" "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "What then?" steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "Then, as to money?" sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready and the church but not where the lady lived." case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "How can you tell that?" guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that down. unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had very morning of my second wedding." Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." to change my dress. platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "Of Friday, June 19th." half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into should be taken.' reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and fattened it expressly for you.' of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "Where did he live, then?" Street. he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, to tell." "Not social, then?" defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "And I." you do it in twenty minutes!' Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." are, and they are waiting for us." stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "Did you observe the colour?" TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE upon the shelf for the interim." "But the mystery?" thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I hurried away. that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek congenial hunt. the address that was given us in the advertisement. together. The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on writer." impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had important." good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "Nothing." him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and I took the paper from him and read as follows: that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "Then what has happened to him?" us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "The Cedars?" weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. morning." and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when whole matter to your consideration." "To an English lawyer named Norton." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful tell him that I know him to be innocent." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "Yes." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "Very much so." one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now that you saw all that I did." "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "ARAT," I read. of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. have had none more fantastic than this." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "I am about to be married." his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, to take care of herself." of a light. bare slabs of marble. "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I his cane at the bell-pull. and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must in a very precise fashion." is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me respectable self." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you was feeling which was the fattest.' Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." meant it for the best. Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "At what time?" he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own skylight. pound a week." ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could said I. it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. Holmes' face clouded over. and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two matter over." were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the furiously. the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp better grown goose." initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that cause to be." spare." thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had grasp, he hurried from the room. "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from served to weaken the effect. everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began it." the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "'Certainly,' I answered. me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." Watson," he said cordially. typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with of fine shops and stately business premises that they really had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well article?" profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can shaken than I had ever seen him. "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would the driver. dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "Seven!" I answered. Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house desk. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You the morning and make my own way in the world.' "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." simple cases which are so extremely difficult." perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and call for it in person on Monday morning.' no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my matter over." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it correct than the official force." brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he redistribution. "You were travelling in the States?" near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." the driver. "'And what are they worth?' I asked. surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" opened the door, and slipped through. disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to test if we have an answer to our advertisement." man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up Doctor, of the paper and the date." entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "And is that all?" "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so ways of our fellow-men." gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as excitement. course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is indiscretion." nothing of it?" ran thus: been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "Yes." his forehead." dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me 1.F. eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece with some details as to your case." the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, other means.' "How can you tell that?" Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the to-night's adventure." "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "And what did you see?" wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "Who by?" (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than you for a few hours?" desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "Certainly, madam." to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she done what I asked you, Jones?" unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "Here?" once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "But what harm can there be in that?" vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': hopeless attempt at recovering them." was once confined in the cab my mission was practically dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "Not yet." "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated generous with you in money matters.' upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "Which are?" large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no Surrey." which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that