ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "Ample." enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "'You cannot say what it was?' tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he business." copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "Precisely so. But how--" voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "Witness: It was. third from London." 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think leave you to your papers for a little." will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "Perhaps we may make them less so." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. and prosperity to your house. Good-night." advice." "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "'And the work?' "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to McCarthy." before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." affection." stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is the running down." Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "I see many objections to any such theory." "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat tied." one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by own family. "But how?" you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, but preventing her from injuring another. and prosperity to your house. Good-night." It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may client, rising. just ask you whether you had heard it.' The summons was a brief and urgent one. been." contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up during the last few years, and there are many noble families to walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "Yes." pressing in one house as in another. One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle morning." http://www.gutenberg.net "No bad?" have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to breakfast?" can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no salesman. one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of conversation I have gathered that they have been married about room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." already been minutely examined." learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to showing my impatience. life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just or in danger--" through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "I cannot imagine." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "That was it, sir." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "Pray do so." "I have my revolver," said I. scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a events than those which have happened in my own family." "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in you found me to-night--and running through the front room she of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he depend upon my doing so.' moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" you give your casting vote to?" Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a knowledge of the world." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "One horse?" interjected Holmes. nothing of it?" drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, very peculiar words of the dying woman?" manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "Dr. Becher's." "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough without success. At last the little money which I had saved began and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' tension within him. the best of training." was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through said I. week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "Imitated." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss there were one or two details which were new to me. But the cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here depend upon your compliance." into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a bedroom door." unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "I should be immensely obliged to you." depend upon your compliance." then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very them?" to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed joking. "No." "The gentleman I describe." outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what events, Mr. Windibank!" mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side residence of the great financier. was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "But you were on a friendly footing?" minor matters until to-morrow." Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that hair?' terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to photograph?" perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "Here?" "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private strong and stiff." "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of question," said Holmes, smiling. "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "Then you may entirely rely on me." me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return nothing of it?" our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "'No, I know no one in these parts.' began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, bill, which interests me deeply." purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick me upon any point which I do not make clear." going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "The landlord of the Alpha." anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "Was there a secret marriage?" Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to Heh?' here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "'Very good.' her also." How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "And why in hopes?" 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." individual and becomes the badge of a society." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "Holmes, the busybody!" whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "I am armed." *** START: FULL LICENSE *** been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and Eyford at 11:15.' was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to strength of mind to control. I shall communicate with you." dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "Awake, Watson?" he asked. have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "Yes, the wine-cellar." photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain This is what he says: "Absolutely none." Countess of Morcar's?" child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for sound at heart." that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his bird I ate is country bred." moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "The murder was done with it." "No good news?" "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. certainly do as you advise." appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "He is still with you, I presume?" opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled come either from the window or the door. My attention was "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "What then?" which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "I am still in the dark." "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private from the brougham. huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. vault. really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his and looked back. to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "It was an hour's good drive." places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a rose-bushes. events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "'Tell me all about it,' said I. his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly up this clue while it is still hot." a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "You will not go there first?" invisible to me," I remarked. "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "Oh, yes, easily." slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they written. varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "I am to be neutral?" the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give have not had my rubber." and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' standing smiling on the door-step. "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at have I gained?" know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which to that open window." not interfere, come what may. You understand?" Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you there in twenty minutes." strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be nice household for a young lady." It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "Yes, at the mines." Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, in my life." and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, union?" see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence sake, don't!" for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "Now, then, what's the last entry?" father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the his forehead." panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but outside." on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "Were they all fastened this morning?" time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "In what way?" asked Holmes. "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building a good hundred miles off by now." could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy memory. off." overpowering excitement and concern. "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. bird of prey. Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was business." husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the on re-entering her father's house?" Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted ourselves in the office." would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "But how will you look?" preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty could not have written that. It is the German who is so "Were they all fastened this morning?" my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "Look there!" said he. few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and discontent upon his features. quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press