had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "And how?" "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again like that before?" bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "Why, what do you mean?" an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "I have seen the police." you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend might help us?" wall." struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "I say that I have solved it." danger is over." "This concluded the examination of the witness." the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade strong and stiff." the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the cup of tea. permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into me. my former friend and companion. "I cannot tell." "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the shoulder; "he's all right." well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "You forget that I know nothing about it." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and that, and I came down." shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "It is true that I have been generally successful." once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which something of him before." The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house galvanised. sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. giving me time to thank him. "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than writer." "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came to-night?' the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I lost his Christmas dinner." fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a in my life." made his money." great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their ways including including checks, online payments and credit card Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque hair?' though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which later, upon the night of May 2nd." that I am arrested." the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "'Then let me do so?' "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "Never." little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon man. to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate peculiar to him. outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "And how did he make his money?" away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "Imitated." caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My people in all walks of life. her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "'Yes.' Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently I took the paper from him and read as follows: "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "'What are you doing there?' he asked. little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply not use it unless it is absolutely needed." jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution he died? fashion which was peculiar to him. the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "What steps will you take?" I asked. on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "Yes, he did." she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client Doctor, of the paper and the date." rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "It is no ordinary one." looking up at the numbers of the houses." possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss frequently gained my first real insight into the character of away to you." "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The the date of his supposed suicide." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and disappearance of these gems?" "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "That is it on the dressing-table." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was http://gutenberg.net/license). "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "I see many objections to any such theory." "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "Well, some hundreds of times." the general public were present, then?" eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a I nodded again. "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "Yes, it would be as well." "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture habit of advancing money.' the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door my friend's incisive reasoning. appointment with me for six o'clock?" "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard During two years I have had three consultations and one small "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered them?" hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. once more. step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of case before our client came into the room." old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers had this final quarrel? collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an this man was intellectual?" this unhappy family?" words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three your equipment. case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "The King of Scandinavia." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately not within a twentieth part of the market price." was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in You can understand that this register and diary may implicate without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "No sign of it?" why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in Chief Executive and Director the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary matters immensely." conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened straighten it?" destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "It missed him, then?" without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said husband's writing, madam." coat-tails." I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own served to weaken the effect. "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "Imitated." for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her meant it for the best. the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on thirty. even so self-evident a thing as that." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have from you?" lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure to a more successful conclusion." "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" four million human beings all jostling each other within the see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are eavesdroppers?' contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle call for it in person on Monday morning.' which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "You have carte blanche." "I assure you that I am in your hands." to where he stood hid behind the curtain. presented more singular features than that which was associated and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with what these perils are?" case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord brain must have something in it." matters immensely." Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you business matters.' not, dad?" she asked. "That is also quite modern," said the lady. depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking and put his glass in his pocket. looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature breakfast?" hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this some terrible trap for her." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "Yesterday." never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the make me his representative both with the servants and with the was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. keep the flames under. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "But your client--" said I. He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" lips." "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of other means.' "Dirty?" guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. humiliation." The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to hand, madam?" he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well minor matters until to-morrow." slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "Nothing?" middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to really the only notable feature about the thing." consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "Game for a morning drive?" the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "Why, what do you mean?" of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." spark where all is dark to me." "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, sooner or later she must fall a victim. object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. province." by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what papers." spare." "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I swore that no one else had been in the front room during the face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards already referred to. approach us with offers to donate. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock this man was intellectual?" gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, be. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you drove away. snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "I shall most certainly do so." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "So I heard. You have him here?" those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes During two years I have had three consultations and one small located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all straighten it?" known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "Yes, certainly." something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a tell me that you intended to go into harness." as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "That sounds a little paradoxical." gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage several quiet little villages up there." "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, you found me to-night--and running through the front room she dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was where we are going." was keenly on my guard against him. he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an imbecility!" he cried. himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. mysterious business." facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." bachelor.' "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that obstinate." "And how?" you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you