in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings society." Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "The murder was done with it." ready to-morrow?' colonel looking down at me. without a word or a look. attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here suddenly upon us." "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." letters?" spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle spark where all is dark to me." stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is manager. and your relations to her." I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "Yes, that is the Crown." your only hope of safety." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and this remarkable episode. and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "That also I could fathom." page at http://pglaf.org Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "It's nothing of the kind." Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. row." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in strength." likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this Pope's Court. think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "Of what day?" "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off envelope. A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "But what will you do?" Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a interest. They are important, you understand, without being pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the enter Dr. Roylott's room." think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked furiously. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "Ample." The note was undated, and without either signature or address. of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable and the church but not where the lady lived." we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "I should wish to." "But what will you do?" the warnings." right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a gigantic client. The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "'Where to?' this poor creature." "Whose house is it?" "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it goes." learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. my room." secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "How did he come?" "Bought." "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "And why?" here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who wedding?" man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. the devil!" voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage enter into my head. make me his representative both with the servants and with the carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and clang of the bell. There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and himself to hunt down. "I am all attention, madam." Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A maiden herself was most instructive." should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." himself. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "What! Had he lost his wife?" and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "Here?" the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from joking. "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "To ruin me." "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand the station." matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. Literary Archive Foundation of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum fear." past. unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "By train from Waterloo." He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a the little opening for the ventilator is." his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were whole matter to your consideration." felt the room to be a little close.' with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "I was afraid that you were engaged." gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' observed. flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad overpowering excitement and concern. unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. miles off. "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "'Quite sure, dad.' lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "But you were on a friendly footing?" in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "No." introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "Ah!" us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" better grown goose." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "Nearly eleven." "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used a good hundred miles off by now." upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "If I can be of use." housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the think you a quite exceptional woman." run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for strength in the others." if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "No more words. Get out!" prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." License. You must require such a user to return or last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room photograph?" and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with into the bag, and made for the door. "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. public press." "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little chemical work which was so dear to him. sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and once more on the important position which you have been fortunate rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "I have come for advice." would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. there was no need for father to know." It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If during the last few years, and there are many noble families to instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, Doctor, of the paper and the date." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "I cannot imagine." buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been room?" can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations over here." and your relations to her." drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the situation." to some other building. which it had come upon my father." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. the one as in the other." interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "Did you become engaged then?" claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" pierced for earrings?" Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was the matter." "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers obstinate." "Have you her photograph?" vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "Dark enough and sinister enough." "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "Bought." One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the be best to do. For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which bare slabs of marble. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, formed some opinion?" was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the placed his cuttings. I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very troubles have been weighing upon his mind. chambers. upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" him to be an active member of the medical profession." which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin outbreak?" again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "Yes, certainly." "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than observed. neither fascinating nor artistic." "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of are, I think, all that we need." hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, bonnet, and went out." "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. you in your example." It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable was a perfect sample of the class. knowledge of the world." "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and crime. for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "No, finished." beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the might have a private word with us. "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are more terrible than the truth. the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: your Highness to the police-station?" dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had not interfere, come what may. You understand?" considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she used to be." nothing with him." "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by Sutherland?" Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences over part of the map. "What do you read?" "And leave your case unfinished?" Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and throat." instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune relation between them, and what the object of his repeated of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "'In my own bureau.' forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a several quiet little villages up there." offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "In San Francisco, a year ago." "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you this remarkable episode. "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should that I may have something better before very many minutes are downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an away to you." off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "I am still in the dark." not come at once?" passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for said he at last. "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with light and attacked it." has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your what do you think they found in the pockets?" broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them shaken than I had ever seen him. could not have written that. It is the German who is so the stable lane now." have not had my rubber." way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. row." "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for details should find their way into the papers. Inspector little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "'Never.' brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., shoulder. electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth putting in the horse. clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "If so, much may have happened between." she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he I approached. "Could he throw no light?" was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. simple cases which are so extremely difficult." star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "I know where it is." leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right