laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the Edgeware Road. of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining to tell." From what you have told me I think that it is possible that few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you said he at last. akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and but preventing her from injuring another. down. between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "But she could not love him." about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "'It is locked up,' I answered. and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "So I am. Very much so." others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' chamber." all?" dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the within hail.' which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "'Most admirably.' of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at the little opening for the ventilator is." attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "And how have you succeeded?" Lestrade of Scotland Yard." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "Entirely." bell. Holmes whistled. grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and chambers. encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some there in twenty minutes." to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "'Stolen!' he cried. I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "And I say east," said my patient. many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "How are you getting on?" was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "Yes, from Horsham." us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "What then?" "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, asked with his eyes open. hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "I do." which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. this truth that in these little records of our cases which you other, as fresh and trim as possible. and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "Where is it, then?" everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "I would give my fortune to have them back." Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have tell me that you intended to go into harness." Sutherland?" you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas together. from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his Henry Baker is a member." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "The vanishing of the lady." "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all of the vacancies.' the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second electronic works "Then, how do you know?" me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "We must have a cab." Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "One of the highest in England." eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to figure." in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to bell. Holmes whistled. shadow pass over his face as I spoke. precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in a room. door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing roused himself from his reverie. "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "10th. John Swain cleared. lids now and glanced across at his visitor. comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at voice, changing her seat as requested. "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at wanted for ourselves." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. to arrive at through this?" police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most Sutherland?" not as remarkable as your advertisement." girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "Here?" present." hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, respectable self." "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers me. in my life." "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in way in everything. and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in Street. bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "Was she in good spirits?" an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door Cross for the Continent." "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "The best possible." "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. know all about it," he snarled. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as very morning of my second wedding." who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help never came back." you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. my secret was safe in his possession. those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very in one or two places in England?' "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet my little problems." Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "Not yet." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my delighted to hear it," he said. "'You doubt its value?' he asked. absorbing." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "There is the writing." congratulate you again." Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this to you." value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. populous neighbourhood." buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "I cannot tell." were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed most important business. It is probable that he will be away all you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me some city in a dream. "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. all-comprehensive glances. Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very go from here to the Strand." Sutherland. dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "She will not sell." with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such better grown goose." unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are suspect him." widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must foresight and the moral retrogression?" room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have happened." "No." returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who true." array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "'I am sure that I do not know.' call you and give you the chance." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came purpose of examination. the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You breakfast and whispered something to her husband. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, your bag." in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill 1.E.9. as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in quick march!" always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as arrangements." feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "By no means." LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question at my own good fortune. it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my and looked back. them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from your troubles." "What of the rat, then?" the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "'Then let me do so?' him, that man would not have given me such complete information this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the but preventing her from injuring another. pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "And Miss Sutherland?" saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her is worth.' bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off beg that you will break it off." "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its sufficient punishment." the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. feature." with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are that you can jump it.' "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about look upon these things in a different way." matters immensely." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent three fields round his house, and there he would take his shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "You horrify me!" black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that he died? behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and eat it." he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. the coroner come to?" off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the through." the house with me." the dangers which encompass me." among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days the inquest, and which are worth considering." business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "But how?" Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left into the bag, and made for the door. "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." way in everything. retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "Very truly yours, "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in instincts rose up against that laugh. the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "Oh, yes, easily." a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "And who is her maid?" form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to opportunities to fix the problem. drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought upon the sideboard." wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his enter into my head. had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural searched, without anything being found which could incriminate have not had my rubber." once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the his grey eyes. and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "Not yet." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "Yes." The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much and looked back. "'As governess?' kind enough to tell me what I should do." Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to absolutely follow my advice in every respect." main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." imbecility!" he cried. "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." occupations.' "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt I. and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said ashen face. you."