the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare over with notes and figures. the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of occupations.' business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you main points of my analysis." "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "Which are?" She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "Yes?" "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." cup of tea. lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in following enigmatical notices: Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "Why? What do you mean?" they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet Foundation always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your the child." eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "'Yes, sir.' "Yes." cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "They are typewritten," I remarked. "What can it mean?" I gasped. taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an papers on the sundial.'" It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "'Oh, no.' glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "Nearly eleven." as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. to that open window." my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the man. appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a me. You must get home instantly and act." he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "Have you her photograph?" the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "'I am sure that I do not know.' emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "I never have." should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to Literary Archive Foundation "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the brought there to personate someone, and the real person is before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "Then, how do you know?" you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible over part of the map. "What do you read?" "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "Perhaps we may make them less so." "And is that all?" relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some attention." looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of emerged. would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he prove to be little relation between the different incidents of reach." It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, the Friday. Was it to be in church?" ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "That is easily got." conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the sit on the left-hand side of the driver." midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "Oh, the cause is excellent!" Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him thin legs towards the fire. was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "But what is it you wish?" impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "And is that all?" finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "I am following you closely," I answered. by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the comes from the middle window." end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "And you can do nothing until then?" "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving up this clue while it is still hot." be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "And from a noble client?" "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, sentimental considerations in the background which would induce with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I morning." you?' fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "And how did he make his money?" "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's his huge brown hands. I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "Absolutely?" "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in client, rising. "It is half-past ten now." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, that before taking the final step I should like to submit the Mrs. Toller serenely. one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never respectable self." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning followed. the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were place of silver." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "One of the highest in England." "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found me." "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into were unconscious?" red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with The King stared at him in amazement. chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "But how will you look?" spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban The telegram which we eventually received came late one night gigantic client. rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as you found me to-night--and running through the front room she brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "Two days later this same performance was gone through under probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "Certainly, madam." over here." "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the the stable lane now." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "Stolen." time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "Where did you address your letters, then?" you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "And how have you succeeded?" "Get out!" said he. "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem I nodded again. eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the bird of prey. remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every paper in the air. "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small with some details as to your case." "This photograph!" well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had up this clue while it is still hot." "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "Yes, from Horsham." his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather II. wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that on in his house." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, sofa. This way, please!" "It is his hat." my former friend and companion. Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three I took the paper from him and read as follows: himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing nights." "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "What can it mean?" I gasped. greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in people don't know." To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at Stoke Moran." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "I do." impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little Dr. Gregory B. Newby Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and the address that was given us in the advertisement. workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "A confidential servant?" to arrive at through this?" "Pray let us have it, for all that." don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would despaired of." drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "By all means." "'And the work?' upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on observed. be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for the coronet at all injured?" Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in galvanised. "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "It missed him, then?" room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope obstinate." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no handed it to him. by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, which our visitor detailed to us. "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth ways of our fellow-men." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs meant it for the best. had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this him to be an active member of the medical profession." "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that thirty. following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a comes from the middle window." what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "And why?" attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since asked. with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Yes, sir." "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled awkward doing business with an alias." opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this never will be, entirely cleared up. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "ARAT," I read. all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "Dark enough and sinister enough." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "It must be recovered." and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "The vanishing of the lady." "And is that all?" "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for me." perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "No, finished." for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "Nothing." England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, beg that you will break it off." his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "She will not sell." Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "Nothing?" I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual fattened it expressly for you.' should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both address. will not take me long to tell. part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe.