stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were test if we have an answer to our advertisement." who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "I should wish to." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, fasten all the windows?" handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to straightened it out again. "No bad?" 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to joking. "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's national property. I was determined that the law should have its "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "No bad?" "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I is acting for the best. comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two the inquest, and which are worth considering." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my directly by questioning you." very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a people in all walks of life. "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he there!' the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "But we can't all be." know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you tension within him. invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "What! a murderous attack?" "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "Is he quiet?" For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible sentimental considerations in the background which would induce dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked second." occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "You will not go there first?" almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "What will you say?" he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as said he, "my real name is James Ryder." in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I 11:15.' to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. o'clock is it?" that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "And how have you succeeded?" beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the too. they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "You have a clue?" window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the instincts rose up against that laugh. distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, the stable lane now." writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it within hail.' not come at once?" was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to in him." to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "You saw the ventilator, too?" question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "I do." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have of fine shops and stately business premises that they really hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute confronted him. might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each congenial hunt. Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into highroad, where all traces were lost. official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "No. What a strange idea!" square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "What! Had he lost his wife?" "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account than was visible to me." was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat character. than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "But to whom?" clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, second." "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I there." handed it to him. is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "Absolutely?" The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "Have you it here?" a room. Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in McCarthy." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "His face fell immediately. his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who ill-usage at the hands of fortune. observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking memory. woman." "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save bears upon the case?" hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the place of silver." geese which you supplied to the Alpha." down from London to inquire more deeply into it." And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up the matter." - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of him. took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "'Quite sure, dad.' nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "Ten will be early enough." "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom dramatic, in fact." and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "May I see it?" "What then?" "So it appears." If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "But he might be a bachelor." 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her particular state visit http://pglaf.org 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted quick march!" jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "Never." against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want not, dad?" she asked. handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "'Then let me do so?' down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "Yesterday." "Perhaps we may make them less so." were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get weary and pale-looking. "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "And what did you see?" chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small Holmes rather sternly. stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the quick march!" saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of cigars in their mouths. and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "It must be recovered." arrangements." learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." next day. one else, I think." mysterious end." time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he the matter?" "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander himself. at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "What! Had he lost his wife?" came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." opened the door, and slipped through. conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "'There is a drive, then?' need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to him to go away.' hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I your Highness to the police-station?" opened the door, and slipped through. "You are hungry," I remarked. hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "Ah, but I was recommended to you." said he. work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was persecution?" of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been ourselves in the office." making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "Perhaps I have." waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry appeal." man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and have I gained?" together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same highroad, where all traces were lost. "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments papers must be those that are destroyed.' photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted amused." My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, in his power. flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. you found me to-night--and running through the front room she It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the held up the lantern and gazed about him. others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two bled considerably." Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, then?" A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a visitors." "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right one or two very singular points about this room. For example, has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far address. complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "Indeed! Whose, then?" works. "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "Breckinridge is his name." you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? crime." approach us with offers to donate. "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "On Monday." "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the face and glided from the room. firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in fish-monger and a tide-waiter." instituted." to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "And I say east," said my patient. photograph a cabinet?" best detective that ever lived. collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: present strange and interesting features that it is no easy penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of developed." call you and give you the chance." ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the the tragedy. place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, call you and give you the chance." pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, tassel actually lying upon the pillow. the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, highroad, where all traces were lost. varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could to that open window." the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is developed." hereditary King of Bohemia." head. So long, then!" "Was your sister dressed?" wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation