"No, my brougham is waiting." assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, would apply.' "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that your sleep?' to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My points in connection with it which never have been, and probably offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an their singular warning or token before them when starting upon were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss true." "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "You saw the ventilator, too?" logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "That sounds a little paradoxical." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "My last client of the sort was a king." passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more populous neighbourhood." arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get your co-operation." the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main which are rolled in Rotterdam." completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and pictures, libraries, or plate. decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four spare." what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "Yes." A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "You are all wrong." I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such him and tried to hold him back. calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his ourselves in the office." heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is strength in the others." "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "Stolen, then." afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "Can I be of assistance?" lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had guilty one." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight south, for the country is more deserted there." "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. be sorry for having acted so harshly." that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "Then what has happened to him?" hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern have accepted such a situation. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, with the outside air!" "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He of the vacancies.' humiliation." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "I answered that I had not. and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "Yes, it would be as well." envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to a few minutes he said that it would be all right. wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. Arthur Conan Doyle across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that "I am in hopes that she does." mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich use an arc-and-compass breastpin." of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." out of this horrible affair." "'Most admirably.' one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have awkward doing business with an alias." Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "But of what society?" instincts rose up against that laugh. "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low became a certainty. broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you I took the paper from him and read as follows: and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my acted in my house last night?" "I have hopes." "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right know that the truth is known." the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and matters immensely." companion imperturbably. evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated morning." to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "And how did he make his money?" investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection morning." "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." him to be an active member of the medical profession." will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "ARAT," I read. silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive had died away into the silence from which it rose. and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to child?' "But his lameness?" empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "'Certainly not.' rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his way in everything. "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards flock.' brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "What can you not understand?" against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, cigars in their mouths. "No." He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "Imitated." the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John coroner's jury." been shamefully used." grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body do." "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" said he. akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers sneer upon his pale face. "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down showing my impatience. deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom was not a bird to be seen there. heavy and sharp instrument." "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I questionable one." across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after matter." you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you more solid." The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our Sholtos." "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little morning." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about long narrative. are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. the bottom.' "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing anything to do with the matter?" singular points about the case. What did the police think of the examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would maid will bring up your coffee." himself in a perplexing position. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "To ruin me." at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, should be so warm over such a trifle." he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to said he at last. "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "I never have." read it out to me." Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was the south-west, I see." all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would possible that we could bring him back to her? unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent examine." at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and placed his cuttings. foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that appeal." straightened it out again. Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases for and were ordered to this address. "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." read it out to me." "Holmes, the busybody!" work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "The Coroner: What do you mean? that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper electronic works time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora and all of them with the keenest interest. breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the is entirely a question of barometric pressure." He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious footfalls from the street. push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my tell me that you intended to go into harness." "Well, some hundreds of times." "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "Ample." case before our client came into the room." reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind business came to an end." the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my if she died from some sudden fright." treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you in the port of London." undoubtedly my uncle's." "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a bell. Holmes whistled. too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." your own bird, so if you wish--" so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" again on its way. the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As maiden herself was most instructive." pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, business." his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my minor matters until to-morrow." bonnet, and went out." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the not, dad?" she asked. had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "Well?" both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "Upon what point?" as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "I am sure." fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to key turn in the lock." observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and wanted for ourselves." impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the footfalls from the street. "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on matter." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the III. eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "Absolutely?" had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may fat-encircled eyes. in darkness. our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. mysterious end." "Indeed! Whose, then?" and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent your bag." "And is that all?" plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what touch that coronet?' moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," McCarthy." the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the occurred." not come at once?" "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "Never." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw remarked. either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. forbidden door. "What! You do not mean bodies?" my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of such attractions and accomplishments?' eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "Well." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets occupations.' "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is 11:15.' so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "I was sure that I might rely on you." gentleman's clothes. lids now and glanced across at his visitor. Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to papers." France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present