premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "My photograph." fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, you?' wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off be sorry for having acted so harshly." repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" place no limit on the sum I may draw." "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that prepare for the new role I have to play." was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. have not had my rubber." "But you were on a friendly footing?" breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" since then to throw any light upon what became of him." incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "You were travelling in the States?" from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my wall." village inn over there?" copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon sneer upon his pale face. The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "Do you go out much in society?" horse could go." the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my that, and I came down." I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, on re-entering her father's house?" "Now, then, what's the last entry?" better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "You forget that I know nothing about it." "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to dear old homesteads?" Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could II. villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, placed his cuttings. unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between and inquire as to the address." the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "You have but to name it." - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became other means.' shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "'There is a drive, then?' the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without that the gas is not laid on in his house?" You can understand that this register and diary may implicate the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark flock.' repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest the nursery. road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others I have it here in my museum." "I guessed as much." which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "Not particularly." like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "You did not overhear what they said?" have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose investigation." was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for generous with you in money matters.' the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less Leave Paddington by the 11:15." I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "Really! You surprise me." "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in row." "And for present expenses?" notes," he said. he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger writer." "Will you go?" had no one to advise her at such a crisis." rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side enter Dr. Roylott's room." "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of confronted him. "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout very morning of my second wedding." "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet memory. across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "The King of Scandinavia." opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary hurried away. Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If the Assizes." grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and will not take me long to tell. A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had into the bag, and made for the door. "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" the house with me." other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. deduce something from that?" herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never laugh and put his lips to my ear. such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." IS "He said too much." "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. never came back." call for it in person on Monday morning.' all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a Holmes." II. dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found your co-operation." should be so warm over such a trifle." "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "Were they all fastened this morning?" "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I with you?" The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "'What do you call purely nominal?' permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest present." test if we have an answer to our advertisement." the tragedy. There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At gives a meaning to it." leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been recall any case within my experience which looked at the first brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "Who by?" gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent think you a quite exceptional woman." "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a look upon these things in a different way." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived are, and they are waiting for us." pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It discontent upon his features. comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to observed. wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making will he say when he returns?" his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "And now?" I asked. never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "Pray do so." "Who was the criminal, then?" strode off upon his way. who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. least a fellow-countryman. his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." fled together." "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "Did your wife hear all this?" when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy had a long day." the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in Holmes rather sternly. tension within him. that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," business in the City. She little knew what. fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having weapon." schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "Here?" the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "I came to find a friend." were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was the coronet in his hands?" "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "You have it, sir, just as it happened." I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to himself to hunt down. Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest observed. "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "Whose house is it?" the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "What! You do not mean bodies?" "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about could go. of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in I nodded to show that I had heard. act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "She will not sell." Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I happened." explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "How on earth--" of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "He might." "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." very peculiar words of the dying woman?" unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and desk. daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable ventilator." to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently begun to whiten, even as mine has." Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in Holmes." course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "I was certainly surprised to find you there." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "When did she vanish, then?" "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an get her out of the way." "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of believe that I should never have any practice at all. tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "You heard nothing yourself last night?" the side-table." "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for said I. her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "Pray do so." My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "And you don't know his address?" He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his following enigmatical notices: most interesting one." humiliation." fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "No, thank goodness, she did not." "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building call it cruel." pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as him!" "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "Nearly eleven." eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "And when will you call?" Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "Very well, sir. And this stone?" Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf of his shoulders. papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "Murdered?" finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day this unhappy family?" dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "Thank you. Pray proceed." all-comprehensive glances. yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not