occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the the coronet in his hand?" "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "But it has twice been burgled." she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "My Mary? Impossible!" he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the about. to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was to arrive at through this?" beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see that you wished to speak to me?' at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a open." everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "'What do you call purely nominal?' anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "He said that you could solve anything." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at to arrive at through this?" fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." are windows in it, of course?" little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white your room." labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but gone before you can get him to hospital." "Where did he live, then?" "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country husband's writing, madam." "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again upon a handsome competence. hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman straightened it out again. main points of my analysis." back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to know what is wrong with it.' out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "My Mary? Impossible!" c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a residence of the great financier. left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they kindly on the shoulder. the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "Thank you. Pray proceed." side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and attention." has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own official police." was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a better grown goose." Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "Why did you pick him?" Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "Whose house is it?" my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was compunction about shooting them down." for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common criminal. We have already had experience of such." "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "Yes, the wine-cellar." in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You indeed happy." "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "That is easily got." where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a presented which may be striking and bizarre without being Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of page at http://pglaf.org could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' DISSOLVED. affair. find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "'What then?' I asked. if she died from some sudden fright." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "Ha! you find it so?" I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he there is a decided draught." the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, straightened it out again. here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "Perhaps we may make them less so." said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my read over the extraordinary announcement. foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "How are you getting on?" fattened it expressly for you.' desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "One of his hands." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "Yes, it was twisted." knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and read over the extraordinary announcement. lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and speckled band?" paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "And now?" He raised his hand. the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to have established a very serious case against the son of the his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were do.' I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "My own seal." "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a and capable of preserving a secret.' "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got thought that she would have been so carried away." "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. tell me that you intended to go into harness." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and awkward doing business with an alias." "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "No more words. Get out!" the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but in darkness. of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the and prosperity to your house. Good-night." halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "That is also quite modern," said the lady. Stoke Moran." outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy redistribution. he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "He said that you could solve anything." "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" the little opening for the ventilator is." look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "My opinion is in no way altered." anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and have accepted such a situation. I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "My photograph." "I should wish to." and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "'I am sure that I do not know.' responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people too. "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less wall." when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must we went to search for him, face downward in a little met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! handed it to him. was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "We were both in the photograph." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well villagers almost as much as their master. of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "It came here." to tackle the facts." form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" these bleak autumnal evenings." brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial events, Mr. Windibank!" description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position I am not easy in my mind about them." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "9th. McCauley cleared. bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do use an arc-and-compass breastpin." make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either said Mr. Holder. "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "I cannot tell." horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "Nearly eleven." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "What, then?" morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me wedding?" "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds thin, with a long, sharp nose?" that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I fact, we may call it conclusive." third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "Yes, but only for you and me." Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I British peeress.'" Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. it? Did I buy the geese off you?" not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "In answer to an advertisement." august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step amused." inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The fishes. were wasted." carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an future lives." "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "And I say east," said my patient. "The decline of his fortunes, then?" chance." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he speckled band?" in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where present." or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm his fortune, and I went back to pa. front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these in his power. "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and what I may call a really hard day's work." "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, confronted him. "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." this poor creature." "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call way in." "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "Dirty?" "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize carried out of court." few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "'Then let me do so?' that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the or in danger--" "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all you in yours." "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' *** START: FULL LICENSE *** partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. matter." "He might." it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "'Which dealer's?' as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." as the one I chose?' Pope's Court, Fleet Street." might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us of Fenchurch Street." her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, front of me. village inn over there?" be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very hair?' my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my the loss of it. vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away of fine shops and stately business premises that they really and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "Not social, then?" upon the shelf for the interim." "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "I have hopes." "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should very old mansion. "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and towards the blaze. he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in spare." that?' felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of