that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become whereabouts. afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough third from London." few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished But Holmes shook his head gravely. colour had been driven from his face. journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said have been better. It is all right." a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in the night.' stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had it." should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. families. Now for the facts. tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "And help." too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the other lovers by making love himself." "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future investigation." "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO copied or distributed: "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not "Pray continue your narrative." feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "What, then, did Peterson do?" pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "No, I am descending." photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "Breckinridge is his name." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal true." showing my impatience. always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "How often?" inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," himself. to tell." to surprise her." appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him children over to America with him, so that I found myself without I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the burst into a hearty fit of laughter. and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "Get out!" said he. since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and out." make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. heavily into it. I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "And I." began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "Get out!" said he. breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the forebodings. flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones noise which awoke you from your sleep?" with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "But to whom?" who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, have not had my rubber." such attractions and accomplishments?' superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been are windows in it, of course?" was a lad." "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "But you have hopes?" We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "Game for a morning drive?" beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, a few minutes he said that it would be all right. and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "One of his hands." All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his of your young ladies.' where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear results." have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I other lovers by making love himself." himself to tell his story. Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what held up the lantern and gazed about him. with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in at home. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the of note-paper. It read in this fashion: beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going she to prove their authenticity?" Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "And how in the world did you find them?" judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "Yes, sir." abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her towards the blaze. first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, held up the lantern and gazed about him. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square know all about it," he snarled. places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "She told me to ask you." when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her room?" for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the Leadenhall Street--and--" doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine strength of mind to control. imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." outside. and no precautions can guard against." with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "A thing like a cleaver," said he. Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the for securing the situation." you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. think you a quite exceptional woman." LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of as this. Pray let me have the details." Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished threw himself down with his face to the pillow. order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "He is dead," cried several voices. him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "It is to him that this trophy belongs." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography go--none." hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were dead, shall be safe with us." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "You'll never persuade me to believe that." was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their door?" beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off woman who has had her own way to make in the world. could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "Then he might have called to you?" look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried imbecility!" he cried. recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, answer." the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King which was all perfectly true. "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, disturbance in my wife." Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a down in his armchair and closing his eyes. once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "Yes, only one." "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "'I have heard so.' The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting as the one I chose?' "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who guilty parties." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham humiliation." days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most thin legs towards the fire. well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "Eh? What was that?" huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the comes from the middle window." to talk it over. "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, behind me. "'How far from the body?' "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "Because he was handy and would come cheap." waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated of campaign. endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "The vanishing of the lady." thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "Very well, sir. And this stone?" some mystery and the punishment of some crime." upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with disappearance of these gems?" whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of giving me time to thank him. "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." the room while you explain this matter?" her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His Holmes. "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard him to be an active member of the medical profession." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "You were travelling in the States?" years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "None." of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the felt the room to be a little close.' "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "No, but the enclosure is." "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only society." crime. face and glided from the room. left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." writing, and yet I know it well." near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely my special province." forbidden door. dates and names. Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "'Not at all. I only doubt--' room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his Gutenberg-tm License. to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, whereabouts. say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "The gentleman I describe." time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "No." "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "I cannot tell." he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre Edgeware Road. consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "Precisely." "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "Will you bet, then?" "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it front of the hall door has given its name to the place. be there in time for your coming." side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass I am not easy in my mind about them." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said to-night's adventure." strode off upon his way. salesman. "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I have got?" husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "You saw the ventilator, too?" result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "Two days later this same performance was gone through under your sleep?' "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. the King without delay." seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "But he might be a bachelor." his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, what do you think they found in the pockets?" an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. returning from some small jollification and was making his way "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" said he at last. stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which was not a bird to be seen there. force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you extraordinary contortions. "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small distinguish the words: