rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "It was." "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "I cannot think." chance." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were sound at heart." have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. putting in the horse. and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "BALLARAT." call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There *** START: FULL LICENSE *** reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the place of silver." "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: helping a boy to put up the shutters. when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "You were travelling in the States?" "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which how narrow had been my escape. "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! them?" in his hands." "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and of Mr. Rucastle's." bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "Certainly." "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to better grown goose." all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that this man was intellectual?" research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "'There is a drive, then?' flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be tied." some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "But you were on a friendly footing?" passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered province." us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in beg that you will break it off." said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to the coronet in his hand?" of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "Yes. He waved his hands." was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "So I heard. You have him here?" and effective." Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs rat could hardly pass through." my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, his fortune, and I went back to pa. inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "What will you do, then?" it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of on in his house." "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." of Fenchurch Street." The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "But he might be a bachelor." "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "BALLARAT." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "That's no good." we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the window when the police appeared." a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be everything which you would wish to know." with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "In San Francisco, a year ago." his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the mystery." "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. handed it to him. air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in the so-precious time, but come!' night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "In what way?" asked Holmes. advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house back alive. saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this think, you have already met." what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence letters?" terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "How on earth--" The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been in a very precise fashion." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "A client, then?" to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "Of Friday, June 19th." just ask you whether you had heard it.' question. in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "It goes to the housekeeper's room." call it cruel." "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "By no means." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as that before taking the final step I should like to submit the Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of narrative." clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading that you wished to speak to me?' than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was train from Paddington which would bring you there at about through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence was once confined in the cab my mission was practically me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. undoubtedly my uncle's." Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. case-book, which he consulted. mystery may be cleared along those lines." Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the letters?" village inn over there?" were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is despaired of." sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "I will get her to show me." saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was beg that you will break it off." "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the people in all walks of life. "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard with her." the salesman. rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to through." I think that I could be of assistance to you." it. along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make trifles." manager. however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search straightened it out again. murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, *** START: FULL LICENSE *** him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "I will not look." interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a prepare for the new role I have to play." to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "And I to find an enemy." crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "Entirely." uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he in my life." "Was she in good spirits?" that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of the running down." the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "Yes. He waved his hands." My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole Holmes' thin, eager face. "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "Precisely so. But how--" upon the shelf for the interim." of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "Seven!" I answered. some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the of his shoulders. to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his was already answered. why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." presume?" stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her guilty parties." gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary redistribution. back to my heart. which was all perfectly true. and effective." time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an "That is unusual in a young girl." were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "We were both in the photograph." Lestrade of Scotland Yard." force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "You have compromised yourself seriously." families. Now for the facts. hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. your bag." upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "Yes, I have one waiting." the one as in the other." yards of it?' Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. jewels which you have stolen?' "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply second window is the one that I jumped from." Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. the night.' set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite newspaper selections." upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair words came to my lips. believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich him. greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few he bowed and left the room without another word. closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. hair?' in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that I shall communicate with you." What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "I say that I have solved it." relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in cup of tea. green of the new foliage. over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "I shall be delighted." nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "And how did you find out?" shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." as noiselessly as she had come. his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss be there in time for your coming." at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled him to go away.' it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "No, distinctly professional." make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging of." went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." annoyance, but no jest. first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." from you?" delighted to hear it," he said. "Precisely so. But how--" Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to enough to aid us in our search." violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached could go. the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made you for a few hours?" name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." you, my dear young lady?' "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, cup of tea. were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock opened the door, and slipped through. with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were sound at heart." something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "They are typewritten," I remarked. "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "'You cannot say what it was?' "Why did you pick him?" over with notes and figures. postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the impression behind it as though a window had gently closed deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a tell me that you intended to go into harness." of campaign. Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was