mysterious end." you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. his fortune, and I went back to pa. laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely became a certainty. of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a fish-monger and a tide-waiter." question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "'A dozen yards or so.' of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some interest. They are important, you understand, without being "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than night.' said he. as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in again on its way. position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." been shamefully used." copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "I cannot imagine." town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." nice household for a young lady." "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my Eyford at 11:15.' "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "And you don't know his address?" Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your fasten all the windows?" means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "Then, as to money?" ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "How can you tell that?" to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "Married! When?" that he has suffered." of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the God! What an exposure! What can I do?" result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly pictures, libraries, or plate. I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to things are very often connected not with the larger but with the even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "His face fell immediately. however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "She will not sell." late!' conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. was keenly on my guard against him. half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "It was." "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "We have tried and failed." "Not yet." confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that direction." Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "The vanishing of the lady." "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked or in danger--" husband's writing, madam." "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "That was it, sir." fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and Project Gutenberg-tm works. I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and quite distinctive." "'Certainly,' I answered. dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly simple cases which are so extremely difficult." wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear geese which you supplied to the Alpha." lamp in his hand. desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" mystery may be cleared along those lines." Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "You don't mind breaking the law?" freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. stepfather?" my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, The note was undated, and without either signature or address. married her." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. good-night and bustled off upon her way. parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "Always." With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit compunction about shooting them down." sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! for and were ordered to this address. "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "It is no ordinary one." of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider that, and I came down." black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret strength of mind to control. some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre unkempt, staring out at me. "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest mysterious business." and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "Where, then?" "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just me upon any point which I do not make clear." "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one individual and becomes the badge of a society." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "Yes." number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a sound at heart." "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, envelope. an introduction to him?" the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the and wait." pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "'I shall certainly be there.' "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "It's nothing of the kind." sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "Certainly." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until unprecedented a position." "What will you say?" stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear individual and becomes the badge of a society." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention Holmes' face clouded over. "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "That is possible." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "Yes." he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical ill-usage at the hands of fortune. learned something! Where are the gems?" fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "Which surely he restored to their owner?" death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon prisoner's face. I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was shall use the carriage to-night." "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." redistribution. carried out of court." it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between the child." "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "No, thank goodness, she did not." I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "And why?" journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "I do." neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "It is possible." "'Stolen!' he cried. her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" Pope's Court, Fleet Street." assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his events, Mr. Windibank!" been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in the loss of it. should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous politicians who had been sent down from the North. closely." very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "No, distinctly professional." down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this who was a member of your goose club." wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "But you have hopes?" detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all peculiar to him. simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which went to the Alpha were town bred." significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with I shall continue with my miserable story. dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' not as remarkable as your advertisement." and prosperity to your house. Good-night." through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the business matters.' The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "And leave your case unfinished?" no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a and the colonel ushered me in. is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, hour." "You think that he is dead?" their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while not, dad?" she asked. "But it has twice been burgled." pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of wedding?" ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City your sleep?' "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' Have you good authority for what you say?" For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. examine." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My wanted for ourselves." suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I legal crime." relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "'Yes, it was gone.' piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she correct than the official force." I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "You will not go there first?" you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been mystery may be cleared along those lines." "What I expected to see." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' During two years I have had three consultations and one small we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to place no limit on the sum I may draw." "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to the warnings." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their who was a member of your goose club." considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here assist you in forming an opinion." good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line clang of the bell.