"'I am sure if I had known--' in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only likely to be some crony of the landlady's." the matter." streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. Surrey." did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "'A dozen yards or so.' "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a chair. guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, recover the gem." Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a The police have openly confessed that they can at present make metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point feature." impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo desk. hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your Clair, of Lee." and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's prisoner's face. does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "You were travelling in the States?" In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "At the wedding breakfast." chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "At what time?" in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by indeed which he could not unravel. and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not him and tried to hold him back. cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of long narrative. round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. of the vacancies.' where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "My dear Holmes!" him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. troubles have been weighing upon his mind. McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of union?" favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "But he might be a bachelor." reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." bird of prey. that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "Yes." very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the matter over." and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite definite end. believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her simple cases which are so extremely difficult." plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "He disappeared so suddenly." frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always the tragedy. once more to my work. accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, burst out into a roar of laughter. "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "'Yes, I promise.' finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the this man was intellectual?" We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "What then?" that?' the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom crime." Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together where she found matters as described by the last witness. confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "The Cedars?" strange features which were associated with the two crimes which should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "That's no good." hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" have one." "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly purpose of examination. "Ten will be early enough." Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was nonsense.' however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he taking in every detail of the apartment. then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to province." "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman my secret was safe in his possession. Does that suggest anything?" me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell upon the sideboard." of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. memory. him." here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon coroner's jury." heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "Yes, from Horsham." veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "No. His orders were to stay in the house." used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, easy-going way." "'Why that?' I asks. see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of to-night's adventure." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold gigantic client. to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little directors, with the result that you have seen." "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "Witness: It was. see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his bill, which interests me deeply." "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" fire. You quite follow me?" any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be late!' three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring It was close upon four before the door opened, and a and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he During two years I have had three consultations and one small shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his fashion which was peculiar to him. other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A how narrow had been my escape. that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from telegram would bring me down to your help." before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "My Mary? Impossible!" "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation could not have written that. It is the German who is so speckled band?" "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a appeal." foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have him." had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured sufficient punishment." the iron safe, which he closed upon it. I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "Why did you beat the pavement?" "Precisely." find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my as the one I chose?' he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "She walked into the breakfast-room." It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her crowd. skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send next day. brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "An enemy?" companion. even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come presented more singular features than that which was associated "She showed me, as I told you she would." "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an Holmes rather sternly. "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "Then I am your man." of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he was it brought him the coronet? sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through have one." for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his Serpentine Avenue. ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "I would pay ten." "And Miss Sutherland?" "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to cause to be." "And I." impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "None." wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "Yes, it was twisted." the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "'Yes, I promise.' what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and vague figure huddled up in the darkness. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. individual and becomes the badge of a society." society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a article?" which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have unprofitable." "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "What! Had he lost his wife?" digesting their breakfasts at home." bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' the Friday. Was it to be in church?" earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "What then?" carriage. It was a chestnut." indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for is," said he presently: Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight be. self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' approach us with offers to donate. and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "'Never,' said I. burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles British peeress.'" "'What would be the hours?' I asked. kind enough to tell me what I should do." to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten Sutherland. the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "'Oh, no.' so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. you?" while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as room had already been engaged for us. into the room. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "It surprised me." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" is," said he presently: The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "Imitated." and looked back. drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress at once, for I have only half an hour." tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "Do you receive much company?" he asked. overpowering excitement and concern. how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "Now, then, what's the last entry?" His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. were wasted." "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" the tragedy. "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a was a perfect sample of the class. "Come in!" said Holmes. "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are recover the gem." where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "Was there a secret marriage?" true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." brandy and water within his reach. Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there go--none." knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "Was the window open?" and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing vault. presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the with you?" Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "Was he the only applicant?" problems help me to do so." her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure 1.E.9. the salesman. The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "Was there a secret marriage?" "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said the south-west, I see." "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are,