frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the lost his Christmas dinner." "I shall be delighted." the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "What steps will you take?" I asked. "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure over part of the map. "What do you read?" not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "'Not at all. I only doubt--' generous with you in money matters.' panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the national property. I was determined that the law should have its it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At hardly wander." though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." License. You must require such a user to return or are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport comes from the middle window." sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down or other trace. But how on earth--" lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "At what time?" have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "It looks newer than the other things?" "Just look it up, then." certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for affair. and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "So it appears." walking." save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "On your arm?" to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "How can you tell that?" "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a better grown goose." the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "But what will you do?" narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the giving me time to thank him. "Nor running a chance of arrest?" never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the I. was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "'Which dealer's?' look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring drove away. had picked up in the wood. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds What do you deduce from it?" and the whole place is in a blaze." sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is presented more singular features than that which was associated threw himself down with his face to the pillow. for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an eavesdroppers?' me have 200 pounds?' determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "No, thank goodness, she did not." "Stolen." address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There the ceiling. having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, narrative." "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are attention." "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking his huge brown hands. broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was Sutherland?" held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of reach." yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance putting in the horse. as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' you, my dear young lady?' there has been an enclosure here!" them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was father's place of business?" guilty one." "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "But we can't all be." dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "Which are?" suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out be.' purpose of examination. to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "How did he come?" http://gutenberg.net/license). travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley sake, don't!" jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the matter over." corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of not within a twentieth part of the market price." "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser singular points about the case. What did the police think of the set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang weigh very heavily upon my conscience." had formerly been in part my own. mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry records." rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had disappearance of these gems?" Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "What will you do, then?" he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is populous neighbourhood." vanished into the darkness. or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, have I gained?" towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. dramatic, in fact." the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "No." prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, status with the IRS. have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; Munro.' self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. points in connection with it which never have been, and probably cigars in their mouths. that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. was it brought him the coronet? receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The and I shall be with you presently." Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly whereabouts. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for against a man in the prime of life?" One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, business." side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." occupations.' the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. friend's singular character. Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "'Tell me all about it,' said I. the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I instincts rose up against that laugh. weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "Stolen, then." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." his fortune, and I went back to pa. "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, place of silver." urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to directors, with the result that you have seen." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with fact, we may call it conclusive." fait accompli?" that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the such person." promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other retorted upon me, and I on you." and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of leave you to your papers for a little." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind she might be summoned. you, my dear young lady?' "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "My photograph." for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "What! a murderous attack?" words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. so.' "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "Which are?" may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as signal between you and your father? mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "An accident, I presume?" clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "I am sure." "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "Your presence might be invaluable." "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. have been better. It is all right." and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "And how did you find out?" ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in vague figure huddled up in the darkness. more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "No." Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear it means?" trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." during the last few years, and there are many noble families to the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "You were travelling in the States?" particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg which we had just quitted. Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "'About the same.' returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the Sutherland?" to surprise her." "By train from Waterloo." makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "And what did you learn from him?" "Quite so." Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "And how did he make his money?" a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "My own seal." like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one and the whole place is in a blaze." turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "At what time?" murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said to a light-house. winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "Not in a good cause." "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all the so-precious time, but come!' is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door I think that I could be of assistance to you." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to had picked up in the wood. Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San I think that I could be of assistance to you." that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from Street. There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the fish-monger and a tide-waiter." of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the 1.F. time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my tell me that you intended to go into harness." with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and get the tickets." diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate said he, "my real name is James Ryder." impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the instincts rose up against that laugh. began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." help us in this matter." cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "It is no ordinary one." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project events than those which have happened in my own family." "Of Friday, June 19th." but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are Holmes' thin, eager face. danger is over." "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this should be so warm over such a trifle." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he both be extremely obliged.' to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "Do you go out much in society?" away to you." "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "Yesterday." Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is