permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which looking up at the numbers of the houses." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker problems help me to do so." my former friend and companion. girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three business came to an end." that you can jump it.' "I say that I have solved it." is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of to-night's adventure." propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, I was concerned in it." "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' indiscretion." "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it bird of prey. Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" lids now and glanced across at his visitor. very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' to-night." hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in lectures into a series of tales." sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as some mystery and the punishment of some crime." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of which I could not give. He asked for Alice. some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the which are rolled in Rotterdam." lectures into a series of tales." "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "Yes, there are nearly always some there." eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to them present such singular features as the strange train of promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "Not I." possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at spark where all is dark to me." "Now, then, what's the last entry?" as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "Why did you pick him?" public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good leave you to your papers for a little." "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my one which it was hard to resist. fish-monger and a tide-waiter." bell. Holmes whistled. To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard one of the states of the Union." "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with becomes even more simple." word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then conduct the inquiry." "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "My stepfather's business papers." "By no means." Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, hour?' only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "In answer to an advertisement." put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "Of what?" and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it questionable one." "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "That is easily got." "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking people don't know." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely something of him before." you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my pressing in one house as in another. reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is purpose of examination. impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "And sit in the dark?" "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this sneer upon his pale face. justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime indiscretion." Miss Holder?" the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed exactly what you advise." away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which residence of the great financier. have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small arrested. You then--" reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the there is a decided draught." case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "What shall I do?" "You did not overhear what they said?" "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab pictures, libraries, or plate. showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" behind me. in my life." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "Pray do so." of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in experiences." sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the as he remarks, very much against the son." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was the King without delay." cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "Holmes, the busybody!" "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as depend upon your compliance." "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. him and tried to hold him back. "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who noise which awoke you from your sleep?" neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "'Quite sure, dad.' down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "But you would not advise me to refuse?" and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." business in the City. She little knew what. "You forget that I know nothing about it." short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "Yes, all." "I cannot say that I have." absolutely follow my advice in every respect." asked with his eyes open. His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate Clair, of Lee." "'I have heard so.' judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing interests were the same as his." at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "I beg pardon." decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "But we can't all be." the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of you." Street. "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were eat it." He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the sofa. This way, please!" owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he third from London." any little problem which you may submit to me." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our the coronet at all injured?" "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. article?" brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "Yes, certainly." have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage the Assizes." Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the away into the river." to-night." the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal and wait." "Not social, then?" "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked at a side door. in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "One?" nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, impression behind it as though a window had gently closed while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the hopeless attempt at recovering them." "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full whether it answered to the description of any of their buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future she used." dear old homesteads?" In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "But I am all in the dark." "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "'Yes, it was gone.' stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "You were travelling in the States?" "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." following enigmatical notices: Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "Was he the only applicant?" time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are retorted upon me, and I on you." hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "Well?" There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There down from London to inquire more deeply into it." think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from during the last few years, and there are many noble families to will be renamed. union?" there has been an enclosure here!" once more on the important position which you have been fortunate Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "A client, then?" handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "And you don't know his address?" from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by dramatic, in fact." Again Holmes raved in the air. threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after several quiet little villages up there." "And how did you find out?" that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "Was she in good spirits?" "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is brain must have something in it." could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "How on earth--" "'Stolen!' he cried. the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "By no means." should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner and prosperity to your house. Good-night." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to undoubtedly my uncle's." dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, in my life." mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "Yes, it was twisted." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." in his hands." "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a hair?' "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "'Why that?' I asks. London for the present?" past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his that there was nothing in it, after all." yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached way in." "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed McCarthy." "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, cheerful." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is some city in a dream. "I have come for advice." "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some late." "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to hour?' Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much garden below. belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay lamp in his hand. as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "Yes." are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off you do it in twenty minutes!' in a very precise fashion." pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "'And the work?' them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble