suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the suggested at once that there must be a communication between the classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of vague figure huddled up in the darkness. necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My without success. At last the little money which I had saved began indeed happy." here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with certainly not very gracious." back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "You have but to name it." McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "It was a confession," I ejaculated. laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "My dear Holmes!" the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, without success. At last the little money which I had saved began cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child said he. rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "A call for help, you thought?" box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say eavesdroppers?' with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to late." "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and character. annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even and laid it on the table. nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "Nothing?" question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the point our research must commence, and we will begin it by attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal it? Did I buy the geese off you?" the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "No legal papers or certificates?" investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, derbies." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. room had already been engaged for us. wall." is," said he presently: "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' fatally injured? glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing outsides of the windows. chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house fled together." which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "To the police?" "What steps will you take?" I asked. should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. directly by questioning you." Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, hurried away. serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful outside. eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and that you wished to speak to me?' "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version girl said." fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. standing smiling on the door-step. "Absolutely?" at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in thin legs towards the fire. developed." that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my telegram would bring me down to your help." and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster that threaten you." though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "Stolen." was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in annoyance, but no jest. the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. his face which made him a very different person to the round, guilty parties." "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "They are typewritten," I remarked. creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted remarked. pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "I will do it." recall any case within my experience which looked at the first one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "Dirty?" Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa Holmes." hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "A client, then?" fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and unprofitable." I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and during that time.' highroad, where all traces were lost. never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send she to prove their authenticity?" desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, Leadenhall Street--and--" "What I expected to see." stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to whole matter to your consideration." London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "'Stolen!' he cried. a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your that he will be back before evening." copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "Won't it ring?" to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a envelope. of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The highroad, where all traces were lost. impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "What is it, then--a fire?" ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "Thank you. And your address?" column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or in this way: DAMAGE. "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or manager. that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when with the outside air!" to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to even so self-evident a thing as that." window when the police appeared." you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the means taking possession of that which another person has a prior Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "He might." "But she could not love him." hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not occurred." harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "And why in hopes?" He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "Nothing." of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "Yes, at the mines." "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" bed dies. Does not that strike you?" the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "You horrify me!" floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a John Swain, of St. Augustine. we went to search for him, face downward in a little "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to all-comprehensive glances. "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony *** START: FULL LICENSE *** envelope. and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window started for the Temple to see my husband. "Upon what point?" "Never to return." the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "Where, indeed?" from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a come either from the window or the door. My attention was suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' occurred." specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two official police." thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "You forget that I know nothing about it." He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added politicians who had been sent down from the North. determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger made his money." the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, morning." "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "What! a murderous attack?" front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "Nothing." blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a fasten all the windows?" She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both something of him before." Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it allusion to a rat. Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "My dear Holmes!" entirely lost his self-respect." "Whose house is it?" fait accompli?" "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me http://www.gutenberg.net cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it stalked out of the room. feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "How often?" The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any criminal. We have already had experience of such." "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether you do it in twenty minutes!' and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said Where does the thing come from?' through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had stammered. and looked back. butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have lost nothing by them." said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "I shall be delighted." means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. depend upon my doing so.' could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. before, for it was considerably after midnight. "Why did you beat the pavement?" answered with a sidelong glance. "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of will not take me long to tell. "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "Bought." in the port of London." and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "What, then?" smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "What can it mean?" I gasped. didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't like that before?" of his shoulders. "And how?" and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "But he might be a bachelor." in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "That's no good." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we must compliment you." - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of discontent upon his features. which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "Entirely." "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his unprecedented a position." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his there in twenty minutes." probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't you?" "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "And sit in the dark?" police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "No, I think that I'll take it." "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "Indeed! Whose, then?" upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "Tired-looking or fresh?" manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with client, rising. I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "Yes." "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "How can you tell that?" through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon look dissatisfied." useful material for showing traces. The double line a little superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever been anything against him. He had for years been known as a fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her