first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith public press." exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "I say it is." "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you to talk it over. part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was fluttered off among the others. "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very whatever might befall. Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, I shall communicate with you." Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the and glanced through. "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the business matters.' he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt there!' Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the interest. They are important, you understand, without being "'What, the red-headed man?' when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but the child." "You will not go there first?" stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good noble correspondent could be. stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an room. "I cannot imagine." that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "To an end?" the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, think, you have already met." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw morning." "The best possible." money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, only touch the interest." near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "'Very good.' Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of handed it to him. fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when DISSOLVED. conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the few hundred pounds.' tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I and looked back. which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No the salesman. simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think The summons was a brief and urgent one. License. You must require such a user to return or "But not more so than I to find you." quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a in him." "Never." the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford little adventures." George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "You horrify me!" Gutenberg-tm License. my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "It is possible." the bed, and you in that chair." Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known notes," he said. having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him important." he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong individual and becomes the badge of a society." plantation.' has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know must compliment you." rose-bushes. "It is possible." and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his matters immensely." him nearly every evening." quick march!" in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk allusion to a rat. young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "'You doubt its value?' he asked. weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I side. drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My learned something! Where are the gems?" frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There arrested. You then--" the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only was keenly on my guard against him. arrangements." half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what the night.' to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "In San Francisco, a year ago." and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." entirely lost his self-respect." "What then?" absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are felt?" "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "Very truly yours, heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those must be when I saw the door open.' and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, should be taken.' air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off I am not easy in my mind about them." feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have particular state visit http://pglaf.org the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, III. "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" cigars in their mouths. were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "I guessed as much." "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to foresight and the moral retrogression?" your Highness to the police-station?" in. Holmes. of a light. "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through or in danger--" the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "She showed me, as I told you she would." this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "A thing like a cleaver," said he. the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest of this gang." "What, then, did Peterson do?" compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "I warn you that they are very incomplete." their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. in the dead of the night?' need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close I was concerned in it." "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as here." instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "I would give my fortune to have them back." the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a there was no need for father to know." however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had Holmes rather sternly. enter into my head. peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and woven round him. through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "Game for a morning drive?" "Yes. He waved his hands." Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon more terrible than the truth. was a loud and authoritative tap. last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. never came back." find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in distinguish the words: "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "Who by?" was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "But I have heard all that you have heard." has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "Will you bet, then?" Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said is four-and-twenty." cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock during which he might have communicated with his friend the colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, bell. Holmes whistled. "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "Have you it here?" upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I McCarthy." "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the relation between them, and what the object of his repeated of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "Never." the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and key turn in the lock." doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she point our research must commence, and we will begin it by place, I think that there is good ground to think that the devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey do.' "I cannot tell." "Your sister is dead, then?" "What will you do, then?" might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall the stable lane now." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud miles off. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "I shall be delighted." "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we and the church but not where the lady lived." note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "Which are?" when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small triumphant cloud from his cigarette. for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "Her father is very rich?" acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most should be taken.' room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' him and tried to hold him back. reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead them?" Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of gentleman's clothes. have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached be.' accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply will take you up to see the machine.' study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was the one as in the other." "I will, Miss Turner." for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah the matter." "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly less than 26s. 4d. "But how?" Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I where we are going." turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. clang of the bell. was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, a little more before I quite committed myself. to you." The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now all?" confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. you." "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small placed his cuttings. fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "'I have heard so.' "So I am. Very much so." "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" is," said he presently: that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you arms and began to sob in a high treble key. it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the national property. I was determined that the law should have its it." house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "You have carte blanche." She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "No, my brougham is waiting." "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "Ample."