butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too was not a bird to be seen there. the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. ceremony." upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. what do you think they found in the pockets?" case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his started for the Temple to see my husband. fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "Then I can wait in the next room." greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on voice. and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low following enigmatical notices: The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. in this note: "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "You know me, then?" faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "'I am sure that I do not know.' broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any round and wave him away like that.' "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle unprofitable." table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "'Ample.' matters immensely." look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of DISSOLVED. "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the in him." typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has read over the extraordinary announcement. the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "Two days later this same performance was gone through under kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a disappearance of the bride.'" money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "He is dead," cried several voices. stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "My last client of the sort was a king." who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and in my life." wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "The rest you will leave in our hands." his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "Yes." has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I presume?" you found me to-night--and running through the front room she lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight outsides of the windows. "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked my little problems." Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and could not account in any way for the presence of the missing disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having his fortune, and I went back to pa. social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "Did he not advertise?" pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and Countess of Morcar's?" direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, Cross for the Continent." prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my empty. "Oh, yes, easily." a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police 1.F. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a dramatic, in fact." his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that when you have done it." Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "Never to return." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "And I say east," said my patient. little trying to do so much typewriting?" "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "No. What a strange idea!" casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "Here?" leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "Did you observe the colour?" hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore your sleep?' solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still already referred to. desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent retorted upon me, and I on you." What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "'Certainly,' I answered. passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" will he say when he returns?" centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. rooms." "I am about to be married." been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "The best possible." troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "Absolutely none." without a word or a look. "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "But not more so than I to find you." "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. with her." ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you information in his hands the value of which he did not himself corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "But what is it you wish?" cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. married her." Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' said he. child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich point our research must commence, and we will begin it by at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master cheerful." very peculiar words of the dying woman?" covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" the Red-headed League." be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any in this note: comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "Yes, the wine-cellar." that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair outside. immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the arms and began to sob in a high treble key. neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single interest. They are important, you understand, without being get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert the best of training." three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By you in yours." you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "My last client of the sort was a king." I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by into her hand at the door and which lured her within their week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by as he folded up the epistle. dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number of the way of danger. to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "No." the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary away into the river." "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "'No, I know no one in these parts.' it." "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave woven round him. for securing the situation." were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he information in his hands the value of which he did not himself wedding?" was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come feature." young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "You have compromised yourself seriously." he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the the ceiling. records." "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted cup of tea. PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "Why? What do you mean?" his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are there when the Rucastles went away." I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been lost nothing by them." essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while said Mr. Holder. road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "That is also quite modern," said the lady. the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "I was certainly surprised to find you there." Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "Do you go out much in society?" the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning directors, with the result that you have seen." "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. whatever might befall. "No." is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I 1.F. lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, in a very precise fashion." "You have compromised yourself seriously." pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "And Irene Adler?" England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't asked. as yours." character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out deduce something from that?" a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "ARAT," I read. little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "'Ample.' "I cannot tell." way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went had died away into the silence from which it rose. "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the strength." room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at cigars in their mouths. headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as of a light. "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an unprofitable." the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my Stoke Moran." derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or to a more successful conclusion." less than 26s. 4d. with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, compunction about shooting them down." essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. case-book, which he consulted. down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most been lifted and conveyed somewhere." anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." if she died from some sudden fright." livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with such person." side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "No?" was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think this man was intellectual?" "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which a monotonous occupation." form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm upon the table, and I was shown out by the page.