uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "I cannot imagine." other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations kind enough to tell me what I should do." in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "On the contrary, this is the right side." hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I during that time.' distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "Really! You surprise me." "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. better grown goose." centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "Was the window open?" and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "Deserted you?" really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had enter into my head. when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "When did she vanish, then?" row." "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation writing, and yet I know it well." He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I Farm upon the left." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent about. matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell to-morrow." wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it Surrey." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the chemical work which was so dear to him. highly," said Holmes. thin legs towards the fire. devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "What will you do, then?" reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "I cannot as yet see any connection." the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a trifles." his face which made him a very different person to the round, "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and Sutherland?" "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and sake, don't!" Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out the loss of it. wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "She will not sell." "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "Have you her photograph?" is acting for the best. Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your God! What an exposure! What can I do?" laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always in darkness. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." round with crates and massive boxes. what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "But she will refuse." also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "Two days later this same performance was gone through under should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they him to be an active member of the medical profession." "What! You do not mean bodies?" "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "Won't it ring?" up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "'Where to?' has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "Nothing." to-night?' wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being I nodded again. formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, row." disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." chance at all." little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, Pool. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "I cannot think." populous neighbourhood." Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "Then I can wait in the next room." to talk it over. them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "How about poison?" "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up thin, with a long, sharp nose?" delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. bachelor.' back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child appeal." "'Never,' said I. "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "'Yes, it was gone.' We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me October 9, 1890. my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "What shall I do?" "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "I say that I have solved it." "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a meant." your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "Perfectly so." so far?" follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and thirty. have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for to-night?" I asked. "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "Really! You surprise me." "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was whereabouts. give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An bill, which interests me deeply." muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "'Is 4 pounds a week.' cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "She showed me, as I told you she would." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "Stolen." of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the I was concerned in it." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. vague figure huddled up in the darkness. we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "'Yes, sir.' that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. forbidden door. "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers ashen face. "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have it." put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This of his shoulders. attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even redistribution. have one." said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of what is your own theory as to what took place?" cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, "And did you observe any change in her then?" space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of standing smiling on the door-step. just called myself is not exactly my own." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his beg that you will break it off." "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking crackling voice. has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster time." wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "I was mad--insane." closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the call the police, let the police find what they can.' the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "'Why that?' I asks. superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking in the hope of finding them." The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. any." in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the the date of his supposed suicide." playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "Nearly eleven." "Dr. Becher's." was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "The Cedars?" the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless morning." Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell thought that she would have been so carried away." "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's occupations.' has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly yards of it?' Holmes' room. sneer upon his pale face. "No, distinctly professional." "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His most interesting one." and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble there were one or two details which were new to me. But the clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and vault. to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "What then?" you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in hands. about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for shall not find me ungrateful." "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" and the church but not where the lady lived." though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, said he. 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "But to whom?" could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "'There is a drive, then?' dear old homesteads?" behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since gigantic client. opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "But I am all in the dark." consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of when you have done it." "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a as the one I chose?' which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for Holmes' face clouded over. this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to kindly on the shoulder. sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to whatever might befall. pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and American. Then who could this American be, and why should he Dr. Gregory B. Newby "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "Entirely." "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended your co-operation." violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "I will not look." the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. until night should bring an explanation. when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "I have hopes." manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was bears upon the case?" papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "And what did you learn from him?" who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "Could he throw no light?" and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was noble correspondent could be. better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. writers could invent nothing more crude." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really must compliment you." floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the politicians who had been sent down from the North. "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at and a shock of very red hair. Pope's Court. my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "And how in the world did you find them?" livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "Yes, only one." misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his so.' passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "Oh, fresh and glossy." village inn over there?" of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a