aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I the driver. "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the held up the lantern and gazed about him. hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds I nodded again. speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "'Certainly not. But why?' problems help me to do so." filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "Then I shall certainly come." the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "She walked into the breakfast-room." vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I will not take me long to tell. "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "I beg pardon." "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my out." lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." voice, changing her seat as requested. words came to my lips. the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless fire. You quite follow me?" upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. lids now and glanced across at his visitor. you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "In San Francisco, a year ago." Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was matter." "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek brain must have something in it." "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in searched, without anything being found which could incriminate attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "That you are never beaten." "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small other, as fresh and trim as possible. joking. comes from the middle window." "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen that he has suffered." reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, purpose of examination. then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to points in connection with it which never have been, and probably I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not DAMAGE. spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray them?" The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the against a man in the prime of life?" paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "You are certainly joking, Holmes." four million human beings all jostling each other within the gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the it? Did I buy the geese off you?" are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir asked. manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of populous neighbourhood." home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire bed dies. Does not that strike you?" without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "How are you getting on?" "Certainly." have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." Watson," he said cordially. I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from in him." dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or little trying to do so much typewriting?" pound a week." simple cases which are so extremely difficult." soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping questioning and rather startled gaze. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and read it out to me." hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco During two years I have had three consultations and one small common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "And I say east," said my patient. be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, all-comprehensive glances. electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All coat-tails." "What office?" to-night?' lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with know that the truth is known." "'Stolen!' he cried. "'Not at all. I only doubt--' exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave ways including including checks, online payments and credit card but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "'And what are they worth?' I asked. and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but door?" furiously. "'I have already given you my word.' agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to she might be summoned. rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was to-night's adventure." "And I." "Was your sister dressed?" used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "It's nothing of the kind." to some other building. deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated despair." importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "What are they?" "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." stepfather?" least a most suspicious remark." "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "What!" he roared. "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. the salesman. "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are not personally threatened." "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "I guessed as much." "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called upon the shelf for the interim." have one." bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn married her." "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "I promise," said Holmes. better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman other lovers by making love himself." "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few of receipt of the work. London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His your co-operation." There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and are, and they are waiting for us." spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "Which surely he restored to their owner?" derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "What office?" clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "You forget that I know nothing about it." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" I nodded to show that I had heard. relation between them, and what the object of his repeated public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "It is possible." papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay Clair, of Lee." possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" to miss it." the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "No." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Upon what point?" heavily into it. "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be had died away into the silence from which it rose. would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "A greater distance to travel." ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting better in every way that they should make their position a little stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during page at http://pglaf.org man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their companion imperturbably. Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might indeed happy." round and wave him away like that.' "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they nice household for a young lady." with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. room. the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever invisible to me," I remarked. opportunities to fix the problem. "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "You have carte blanche." here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "I promise," said Holmes. to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "BALLARAT." like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "At what time?" opened the door, and slipped through. "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, kindly on the shoulder. are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. had picked up in the wood. question," said Holmes, smiling. Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your been with you?" delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become weigh very heavily upon my conscience." into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "I cannot as yet see any connection." very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from father's place of business?" refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." do." Leadenhall Street--and--" His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. some city in a dream. whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, these bleak autumnal evenings." "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who photograph?" after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual the address that was given us in the advertisement. young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I back to my heart. gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "I have seen the police." errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "'Very good.' years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "None. Neville wrote those words." over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his as yours." "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "What then?" off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "Oh, the cause is excellent!" hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen he. purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the will not take me long to tell. "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "No sign of it?" could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. wedding?" question," said Holmes, smiling. case before our client came into the room." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "Dirty?" have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "What, then, did Peterson do?" enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "The rest you will leave in our hands." ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "It is true that I have been generally successful." reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "But what harm can there be in that?" avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "But I am all in the dark." the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, forecastle of an emigrant ship. "Here?" much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "But you can know nothing of this?" My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "Yes." "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the