so.' always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "Then how many are there?" bonnet, and went out." where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." bled considerably." I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "'You doubt its value?' he asked. husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of it right.' broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." together. "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your attention." round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "Have you it here?" same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "I am armed." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My them present such singular features as the strange train of up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for carpenter." for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "Not I." They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on dead, shall be safe with us." reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the outbreak?" "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." deduce something from that?" are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. excitement. reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked silent! Oh, he will be silent!' turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "Yesterday." stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was hard-headed British jury." she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then companion. pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. nice household for a young lady." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "'Most admirably.' wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary will he say when he returns?" gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was relation between them, and what the object of his repeated in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "He slept on the premises." was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do more solid." which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no front of me. We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "It is very clear." property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's where she found matters as described by the last witness. in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "I say that I have solved it." imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the front of the hall door has given its name to the place. my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say you, my dear young lady?' obstinate." my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of intimate personal affairs in this public manner." to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very at once, for I have only half an hour." "I will, Miss Turner." the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "My stepfather's business papers." gone. salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "It is true that I have been generally successful." such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle me, and I could not think that his explanation of the quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "Yes, all." immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from acquaintance?" papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of skylight. lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated too. delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I and files of the old papers, following the future career of every possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "Witness: Nothing definite. play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of of receipt of the work. "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue prove to be little relation between the different incidents of your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has speckled band?" of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a will he say when he returns?" particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any again on its way. they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "How on earth--" refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "What can it mean?" I gasped. some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "Yes, sir." whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying roused himself from his reverie. "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, You can understand that this register and diary may implicate you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for comes from the middle window." why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her do.' "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. his cane at the bell-pull. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end opened the door, and slipped through. However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and here." wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method details." waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my fattened it expressly for you.' The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some daring than any effort of the imagination." fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "Stoke Moran?" said he. "But you have hopes?" As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in the house with me." diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the national property. I was determined that the law should have its iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "'I shall certainly be there.' together. leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "What?" particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "I think that it is very probable." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "And how in the world did you find them?" 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" hour?' stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of if she died from some sudden fright." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's the coroner come to?" It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a once more to my work. brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, colour had been driven from his face. this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up formed some opinion?" "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "We must have a cab." Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "Which surely he restored to their owner?" this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the interest. They are important, you understand, without being contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's lost his Christmas dinner." questionable one." between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come late!' the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "Where, then, is my wife?" singular points about the case. What did the police think of the disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "Ah, but I was recommended to you." coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the once more to my work. the Assizes." "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "'Certainly not. But why?' paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "No. What a strange idea!" observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "Well." narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, about. St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is laugh and put his lips to my ear. hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not During two years I have had three consultations and one small "'Then let me do so?' address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" me what he had done with the three missing stones. fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. wedding?" me." suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they him!" that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "Here?" it." have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "That was it, sir." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a papers." "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are nothing of it?" half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "It may not come to that," said Holmes. together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was threw himself down with his face to the pillow. wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the the devil!" lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some and the whole place is in a blaze." which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "And how did you find out?" "'Ten to two.' keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of jewels which you have stolen?' maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we completely overtopped every other consideration that we both crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE at a side door. Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will never to learn it at all." absorbing." compunction about shooting them down." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went the coronet at all injured?" This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. that there was nothing in it, after all." "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "In what way?" asked Holmes. "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it "'What are you doing there?' he asked. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." neither fascinating nor artistic." stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. look dissatisfied." I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "Because he was handy and would come cheap." clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, name is different." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "Then you may entirely rely on me." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "But how could you guess what the motive was?" crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows Holmes' room. mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you that I can to serve you." slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. corner of the building. "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "I fear not." and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, I. outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon