possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced visitors." "And what did you see?" lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to them?" let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the carriage. It was a chestnut." lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but examine." "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "The rest you will leave in our hands." "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether wedding?" key turn in the lock." "It must be recovered." "'Certainly not. But why?' returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my gone before you can get him to hospital." streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little him!" hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a felt?" "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But could gather together that I was able to avert another public looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" locked. plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a upon the shelf for the interim." thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature foresight and the moral retrogression?" came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about and no precautions can guard against." of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the hardly wander." "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "No." conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering them, and came down just as you departed. "Breckinridge is his name." Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after written, and locked the door of the office after me. I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name acted in my house last night?" the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "And that is--" down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. again on its way. still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "I am still in the dark." confronted him. ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" his face. making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the get her out of the way." he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him dear old homesteads?" business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the fire. You quite follow me?" "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to is worth.' in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my a suggestive one." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "It was a confession," I ejaculated. mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "This concluded the examination of the witness." "Have you her photograph?" triumphant cloud from his cigarette. writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." pictures, libraries, or plate. she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter important." frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a during that time.' Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself or in danger--" "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. may have an influence upon European history." William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "Upon what point?" "In which, sir?" cup of tea. of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "Yes." with frightened eyes at his accuser. against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers not use it unless it is absolutely needed." charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "Yes, they were peculiar boots." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater know all about it," he snarled. lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were the driver. ceremony." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "'Yes, sir.' all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "Who by?" tell me that you intended to go into harness." interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "None." "What! You do not mean bodies?" "On your arm?" article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." good for you to do.' have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "But your client--" Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been vanished into the darkness. exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the question. Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite the morning and make my own way in the world.' presented which may be striking and bizarre without being already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "It is solved." come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the south, for the country is more deserted there." "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "That also I could fathom." "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, details." before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my Sutherland?" congenial hunt. once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "You have but to name it." "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with mystery!" twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was dear old homesteads?" rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom and have this put in the evening papers." "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments mystery." "No. What a strange idea!" but preventing her from injuring another. face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in very peculiar words of the dying woman?" It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had "The landlord of the Alpha." her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying never came back." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "Not social, then?" As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the his grey eyes. Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "Then he might have called to you?" "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "One?" family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "Not particularly." alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." system of imprisonment?" lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the have not had my rubber." "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the affair. been anything against him. He had for years been known as a information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to tied." and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and the little opening for the ventilator is." sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, views." enough to aid us in our search." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "The best possible." matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "No, thank goodness, she did not." "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of might have a private word with us. "It is a murder, then?" the coronet at all injured?" Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "It was." overpowering excitement and concern. "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." already referred to. the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "I should wish to." other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew easy-going way." tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "Yes, from Horsham." "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their man. I know him from the photograph." cigar and let me expound." recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "That sounds a little paradoxical." "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a careless servant girl?" "What, then?" game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at dead, shall be safe with us." waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a never to learn it at all." "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he not, dad?" she asked. "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church the very letters. But what is this written above them?' sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "What can it mean?" I gasped. keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "I think that it is very probable." intrusion of other matters." owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He least a most suspicious remark." away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." to surprise her." Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, to affect your life." doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "It is half-past ten now." explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "I am about to be married." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to spare." seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "Nor running a chance of arrest?" and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building during which he might have communicated with his friend the extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young congenial hunt. Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill foresight and the moral retrogression?" "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon me upon any point which I do not make clear." hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "Now, then, what's the last entry?" grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than Street. down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but considering the formidable letters which were received by himself inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I I nodded again. public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by Heh?' let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His sofa. This way, please!" excitement. "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "I am about to be married." "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined existence." imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of sneer upon his pale face. seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the it." glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what became a certainty. adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his the running down." should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon page at http://pglaf.org therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a my room." "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding