advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "Did you observe the colour?" "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "He is still with you, I presume?" national property. I was determined that the law should have its slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your again on its way. desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite impression behind it as though a window had gently closed Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "Why did you beat the pavement?" severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "And what did you learn from him?" Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily several quiet little villages up there." "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon which I could not give. He asked for Alice. array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations knowledge of the world." believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that will be renamed. upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I do.' You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Not him." thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." legal crime." week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' forecastle of an emigrant ship. so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "Yes." "'Which dealer's?' Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight foot. had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while a very grave face. "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right breakfast?" right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. October 9, 1890. dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause populous neighbourhood." this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "Was there a secret marriage?" "The vanishing of the lady." and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom most interesting one." in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length been with you?" of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "No, my brougham is waiting." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, instincts rose up against that laugh. to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" closely." of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and God! What an exposure! What can I do?" should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "'Quite sure, dad.' absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was be there in time for your coming." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal of the vacancies.' something of him before." "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and tell them apart.' it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You over part of the map. "What do you read?" it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but your most interesting statement." the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "I am about to be married." "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "Yes, that is the Crown." the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "'Which dealer's?' went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should and have this put in the evening papers." Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the six. Come in!" until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "And now?" He raised his hand. near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if were new raised from a basin. Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "Very murderous indeed." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of good for you to do.' his knees, staring into the fire. "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there Lee, in the county of Kent." think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all think that any burglar could have done. Sutherland. building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are there in twenty minutes." said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark paper in the air. "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "And what then?" that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and License. You must require such a user to return or Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular away in different directions, and I went off to make my own obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. entirely devoid of interest." again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "Certainly." beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the confronted him. and looked back. complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "I don't say that. Perhaps." "You have it, sir, just as it happened." you." again, where I was soon asleep. through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "And how did you find out?" and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "Did he not advertise?" received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was three of the beryls in it, was missing. "It is a murder, then?" I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to what is your own theory as to what took place?" "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them green of the new foliage. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms my secret was safe in his possession. fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "You saw the ventilator, too?" she might be summoned. "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have events than those which have happened in my own family." "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high make me his representative both with the servants and with the the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had tail." pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell quick march!" well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had upon a handsome competence. impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could interest. They are important, you understand, without being "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his have got?" James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "And when will you call?" silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried 11:15.' and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the not interfere, come what may. You understand?" black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" until night should bring an explanation. The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my like that before?" "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "Precisely." pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "But you were on a friendly footing?" has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a British peeress.'" weighed down with some great anxiety. outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, were unconscious?" "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there absorbing." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. about here speaks of his kindness to him." At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia the loss of it. could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "Why, what do you mean?" time." floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has McCarthy." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' union?" without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "Really! You surprise me." tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him cigar and let me expound." "In answer to an advertisement." already been minutely examined." snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was pity, because in other respects you would really have done very outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was which was all perfectly true. in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "I am still in the dark." "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he one or two very singular points about this room. For example, I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. Countess of Morcar's?" suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is the Assizes." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might union?" wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "What do you mean?" your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "No?" near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. name is different." it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and test if we have an answer to our advertisement." Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes in your London, you will know that the office of the company is successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "When did it break out?" He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as of them has the shutters up.' Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with looking up at the numbers of the houses." feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black think you a quite exceptional woman." that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I noble correspondent could be. answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with question. the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "This concluded the examination of the witness." "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "And now?" He raised his hand. of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I the stones. object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the written. Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "What then?" suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he desk. practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a it." maiden herself was most instructive." 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what Edgeware Road. would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco