to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "Dark enough and sinister enough." very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a Dr. Gregory B. Newby same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely chamber." and the whole place is in a blaze." as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. you." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. presume?" It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "I will, Miss Turner." sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do individual and becomes the badge of a society." wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save together. memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if putting in the horse. helping a boy to put up the shutters. dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "You were travelling in the States?" "And who is her maid?" "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating sparkled upon his finger. "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from chair. with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. noble correspondent could be. outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself call for protection in the marriage market, for the present to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "Ten will be early enough." takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in drove away. "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "In answer to an advertisement." "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we his huge brown hands. and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "It is possible." burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "Then the page we have seen--" expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "The landlord of the Alpha." We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend enter Dr. Roylott's room." I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as wedding?" over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, London for the present?" Pool. himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his society." hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. bachelor.' he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked subject to the trademark license, especially commercial (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord the bottom.' "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "Yes, that is the Crown." "Look there!" said he. and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in past. year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to prove to be little relation between the different incidents of expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every hair?' you in yours." printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "Yes?" A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' opened a pocket-book and took out a note. signal between you and your father? soul! here is her carriage at the door." advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to DAMAGE. "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that gone. wife's character?" Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "I say it is." the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "What is it, then--a fire?" her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. salesman. "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father stood on the top of it. "The Coroner: What do you mean? are, I think, all that we need." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving national property. I was determined that the law should have its "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "But you can know nothing of this?" "It is very clear." last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of the loss of it. that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "In the cells." License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his could gather together that I was able to avert another public as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the might have a private word with us. Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging to some other building. foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your enter into my head. "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "What I expected to see." save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "'What are you doing there?' he asked. and put his glass in his pocket. The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from had a long day." in him." with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "Your sister is dead, then?" him, that man would not have given me such complete information made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is hour?' upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "Whose house is it?" from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly take the flies, but not before." recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "Which are?" at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "Very well, sir. And this stone?" The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "It is very kind of you." "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "May I see it?" retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some what is your own theory as to what took place?" Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "Yes, only one." upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it know that the truth is known." "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in there." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, will not take me long to tell. my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked through." "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to past. "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his train.' come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no help us in this matter." "What! You do not mean bodies?" he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "I don't say that. Perhaps." "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "How on earth--" characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he seven miles from Eyford Station.' was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn is so. I know all about McCarthy." You want to know what became of those geese?" "I cannot imagine." "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly said I. "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "And what did you learn from him?" make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "Do you go out much in society?" course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the as the one I chose?' keep the flames under. "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what John Swain, of St. Augustine. fasten all the windows?" c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "I beg pardon." certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "That's no good." was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, she has been waylaid. There has been no result." who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of upon a handsome competence. peculiar to him. successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "Because he was handy and would come cheap." the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to public press." should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from the loss of it. this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative the Friday. Was it to be in church?" centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number go--none." at my remark. bill, which interests me deeply." simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "No." people in all walks of life. habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "I do." "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some nothing of it?" "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would signal between you and your father? "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have death." where she found matters as described by the last witness. "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to present." returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "I warn you that they are very incomplete." Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "And I say east," said my patient. sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "About a month then." something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea you do it in twenty minutes!' shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while and no precautions can guard against." been deceived." We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a have I gained?" pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. than to us. the warnings." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the forehead. Literary Archive Foundation Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three useful material for showing traces. The double line a little the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the quickly through a disagreeable task. one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. tassel actually lying upon the pillow. that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, were unconscious?" be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event confronted him. behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. than was visible to me." should be so warm over such a trifle." alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "Where, then, is my wife?" snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' and your relations to her." glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, how narrow had been my escape. "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." occupations.' staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "Could he throw no light?" information in his hands the value of which he did not himself slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need seem to you to be relevant or not." room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked,