without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see acquaintance?" "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "'And the work?' in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "I think that it is very probable." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson remarked. as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the was once confined in the cab my mission was practically his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "Yes." which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "'Certainly,' I answered. home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, cigars in the box." from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' has little to do with my story." "I am still in the dark." Chief Executive and Director "'What are you doing there?' he asked. strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in me. so far?" "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life me where it went to?" "It is possible." worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not http://www.gutenberg.net stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, chance." Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" have got?" grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "A client, then?" Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project indeed happy." bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "Why did you pick him?" the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, do.' not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some it." better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "I cannot imagine." moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the http://www.gutenberg.net business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." up this clue while it is still hot." "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "Then I shall certainly come." and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "And how in the world did you find them?" this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we could not have written that. It is the German who is so so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "And I." presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. papers diligently of late, have you not?" Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some that he has suffered." think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' His name is Francis Prosper." more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. been shamefully used." fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "What then?" "It is a murder, then?" He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client something of him before." which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "My dear Holmes!" some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter just called myself is not exactly my own." material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "What is it, then--a fire?" records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and question you as to those details which seem to me to be most closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been for the market.' attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. the little opening for the ventilator is." pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the IS tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. during that time.' "Dark enough and sinister enough." as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "Who by?" all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case me upon any point which I do not make clear." "That is not always so easy." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so was already answered. "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "I have seen the police." green of the new foliage. "BALLARAT." of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my empty. any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "What shall I do?" a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was you understand?" benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "You think that he is dead?" "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "That was it, sir." At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without weapon." "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "And I to find an enemy." "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "Because he was handy and would come cheap." strong reason behind." man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." gives a meaning to it." who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. footfalls from the street. and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the most interesting one." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "The landlord of the Alpha." and capable of preserving a secret.' "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I not as remarkable as your advertisement." fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "But how will you look?" saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like compunction about shooting them down." fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "Yes, they were peculiar boots." I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The weapon." He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a you understand?" "I think it very unlikely." knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer spare." us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a his fortune, and I went back to pa. "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon Sutherland?" "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with narrative." few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. if I call to-morrow?" devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey your Highness to the police-station?" and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "And what then?" "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he Mary, has deserted me." "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." situation." "Why did you pick him?" of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to of a light. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "Pray do so." client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. is acting for the best. play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You down. of the efforts of the United States government and of the better and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were business matters.' It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," again." of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work than was visible to me." your Highness to the police-station?" few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a shall use the carriage to-night." "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "I will try. What is it?" himself in a perplexing position. characteristics, but those are the more obvious." to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "Here?" "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and a room. myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. highly," said Holmes. too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "'Yes, I promise.' red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. fait accompli?" "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "I think that I had better go, Holmes." reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "No good news?" the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I nonsense.' "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as legal crime." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "At the wedding breakfast." the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, way in everything. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." in the port of London." green of the new foliage. "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' walking." Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as your billet.' Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "But you were on a friendly footing?" and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "'Yes, sir.' saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps it right.' "At half-wages, in fact." "I have my revolver," said I. through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his less than 26s. 4d. it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have future lives." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "How are you getting on?" "In San Francisco, a year ago." "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "'And the work?' agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then were new raised from a basin. "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "But she will refuse." sake, don't!"